Head of an Old Man, after Rembrandt
Original title: Head of an Old Man, after Rembrandt
kurzbeschreibung
In 1877 Jules-Ferdinand Jacquemart etched Head of an Old Man, after Rembrandt — a portrait with curly white hair and a full grey beard. The print freely adapts Rembrandt's 1654 painting; the plate measures 24 × 17.5 cm.
Description
Curly white hair frames the head, along with a thick grey beard and moustache. Wrinkles line the face, whose serious, inward expression stands out. The man wears a simple shirt with a rolled-up sleeve, and a jacket over it. Side lighting picks out contours and shadows. The head sits at the centre, while behind it the ground stays dark and undefined.
Context
Created in 1877 as a homage to Rembrandt, the etching takes as its source his 1654 painting Head of an Old Man. Reproductive printmaking flourished in the 19th century, and Jacquemart was among the artists who translated famous works into etching to bring them to a wider audience. He was best known for his prints after artworks and ornaments.
Impact
Fine lines and light falling from the side create a quiet, contemplative mood. The old man appears dignified and timeless; the sheet draws attention to age and transience.
Technique
The image was realised as an etching. Fine lines and hatching model the face and clothing. The black-and-white scheme corresponds to intaglio printing, in which the drawing is scratched into a plate and bitten with acid.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)