Three Score and Ten 1919

Arthur William Heintzelman made this etching on a copper plate using acid, and it’s all about age, time, and the weight of existence. The marks are scratchy and full of energy. It makes me think about the artist hunched over a plate, his hand moving quickly, trying to capture every line and wrinkle on the model’s face. It’s like he's trying to find the essence of the man, not just his appearance. Maybe Heintzelman was thinking about his own mortality as he made this. The hat is such a lovely detail, casting a shadow over the eyes. And the way the lines suggest the folds of skin and fabric—it’s like a map of a life lived. There’s a tenderness here, a respect for the subject, and the kind of beauty that comes from imperfection and decay.