Two deformed heads facing each other 1645

This print, "Two Deformed Heads Facing Each Other," was made by Wenceslaus Hollar in 1645, using etching, a printmaking technique that involves biting lines into a metal plate with acid. Hollar was a master of the medium, and the precision of the etched line is crucial to the image’s effect. Look closely, and you’ll see how the artist uses this precision to render every detail of the faces, from the bulbous noses and jutting chins to the intricate folds of the headdresses. The lines create a palpable texture, almost as though we could reach out and touch the rough skin of these figures. This wasn’t just about technical skill, though. By exaggerating these features, Hollar invites us to consider the social context of the time. Prints like this were often used for satire, commenting on the foibles and follies of society. The very act of multiplying images, made possible by printmaking, was a relatively new and powerful force, with the potential to democratize imagery and spread ideas widely. What do you think Hollar was trying to say about the people he depicted?