An Old Man in Profile
Original title: An Old Man in Profile
kurzbeschreibung
Captain William E. Baillie made this etching, titled Ein alter Mann im Profil, in 1761. It presents the face of an elderly gentleman in profile, with wrinkles and a short dark chin beard, set against a dark ground. The plate measures 12.9 x 9.8 cm; the sheet is 14.9 x 12.1 cm. The portrait is executed purely as a black-and-white etching.
Description
On the right side of the image, an older man appears in profile. He wears a dark jacket with a light collar; his face shows wrinkles and a short dark mustache. The background stays dark and indistinct, allowing the figure to stand out. Light falls from the left onto his face, creating shadows on the right side of his face and on his jacket. The arrangement includes no other objects or people; the palette is limited to black and white.
Context
The name Captain William E. Baillie belongs to an Irish artist and officer of the 18th century. This etching from 1761 emerged at a time when head studies and portraits were in demand in printmaking. Baillie produced numerous etchings after his own designs and after works by other artists. The sheet is part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and is classified as public domain (CC0).
Impact
The precise rendering of facial features and the strong contrast between light and dark give the portrait a direct, penetrating presence. The dark background and exact lines create an intimate, almost meditative mood. The viewer's gaze is drawn to the marks of age and the man's expression.
Technique
This sheet is an etching, an intaglio process in which the drawing is scratched into a metal plate and then bitten with acid. The lines appear fine and detailed, suggesting careful execution. The use of only black and white is inherent to the technique and emphasizes the graphic character.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)