Head of a toothless man with bare, sinewy neck in profile to left
Original title: Head of a toothless man with bare, sinewy neck in profile to left
kurzbeschreibung
An ageing, toothless man is shown in profile facing left, his neck long and sinewy. Wenceslaus Hollar etched this print in 1648; it exists in a single state and measures 7.7 × 5.7 cm. The facial features are sharply worked, while the neck is given strong emphasis.
Description
The left-facing profile reveals a high forehead, a broad nose, and a drooping lower lip. Short, wavy hair frames the head; the etched lines make the surfaces of hair and skin tangible. The background is left blank, so that head and neck stand alone in the field of view. Black and white dominate the sheet, with fine, partly diagonal strokes creating depth and structure. In the upper left there is an inscription with name and year, and another in the upper right.
Context
In 1648 Wenceslaus Hollar was working in England, where he was known for precise portraits and costume studies. The small format suggests a study or a contribution to a series of character heads, such as were prized in the seventeenth century. Hollar often worked from his own preliminary drawings or from works by other artists; his fine line remained his hallmark.
Impact
The precise linework and the absence of accessories give the sheet great concentration and immediacy. The eye fastens on the facial features and the sinewy neck, creating an almost uncomfortable closeness. Because the background remains empty, the portrait's expression stands out all the more strongly.
Technique
An etching, of which only one state exists. The etching technique on a copper plate produced the fine lines and the emphasis on textures. At the top and right edges the plate was trimmed by about 1 mm, which suggests later reworking.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)