Portret van een onbekende man met kruis aan een ketting en een hoorn 1549 - 1584

This portrait of an unknown man was printed from a woodcut, likely sometime in the 16th or 17th century, by an anonymous artist. To create a woodcut, a design is carved into a block of wood, then inked and printed, like a giant stamp. The artist has carefully cut away at the block to create a striking image, using the contrast of black ink on white paper to bring out the details of the man's face, hair, and clothing. Notice the precision of the lines, especially in the rendering of the man’s curly hair. The process of woodcutting is laborious, demanding great skill. In its time, it was considered more a craft than an art, which perhaps explains why we don’t know the name of the printmaker who created this compelling image. But we can still appreciate the artistry and labor that went into its making. By paying attention to these details, we can expand our understanding of art history beyond the traditional focus on painting and sculpture.