Bearded Man
Original title: Bearded Man
kurzbeschreibung
In 1647 Wenceslaus Hollar etched this portrait of a bearded man, reproducing a painting by Hans Holbein. The impression is from the first of three states and shows a man in a cap with sleeves rolled up, framed within an oval.
Description
A bearded man appears within an oval frame, wearing a cap and a shirt whose sleeves are rolled up and trimmed with ribbons. His expression remains calm, his gaze drifting slightly to the side. Along the lower edge runs an inscription that provides information about the print's origin.
Context
The model was a painting by Hans Holbein from the Arundel collection; in 1647 Hollar translated it into etching. The Bohemian printmaker was then working in England for the collector Thomas Howard, Earl of Arundel. The inscription records what the print shows and where it comes from.
Impact
The quiet posture and averted gaze lend the portrait a certain detachment and dignity. Clearly drawn lines and a legible layout produce an elegance that seems independent of time.
Technique
The drawing was etched into a metal plate, the lines having first been scratched into it; acid then deepened them. The present impression is from the first of the three states, before the plate received further work. This yields precise hatching and delicate details that follow Holbein's painting.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)