Borstbeeld van een oude man 1625 - 1674

Jan Lievens created this etching of an old man, sometime in the 17th century. It is made by incising lines onto a metal plate, inking its surface, and then using a press to transfer the ink onto a sheet of paper. The quality of this work resides in the marks that Lievens made. Look at the hatching of parallel lines he used to describe the shadowed areas of the face and beard. This is more than just an image, it's a record of his actions. The varying density and direction of these lines demonstrate the artist’s control and sensitivity to his materials, as he built up the image through the application of focused labour. The very concept of the portrait is here fused with the intimate touch of the artist's hand. The image is both immediate and indirect. The quick, decisive marks suggest the immediacy, yet the etching process itself, requiring acid and the printing press, introduces a level of mediation. Recognizing the role of process in this work allows us to appreciate its blend of material, making, and meaning, challenging conventional boundaries between art and craft.