Man with doleful expression to left with hand emerging from cloak
Original title: Man with doleful expression to left with hand emerging from cloak
kurzbeschreibung
This etching by Wenceslaus Hollar was made between 1644 and 1652: a man's profile facing left. The sheet measures 7 × 4.7 cm and is the first of two states.
Description
The man's face turns to the left, his expression sad and withdrawn. Curly, wavy hair frames his head; he wears a tunic with a cloak draped over his shoulder. One hand emerges from the cloak. At the bottom of the image are handwritten notes referring to provenance and a possible date.
Context
Hollar, a Bohemian etcher, worked in England and on the Continent during and after the Thirty Years' War. In this period he often produced portraits and costume studies for various patrons. Who the sitter was is not recorded – not unusual for small portrait studies of the time.
Impact
The man's melancholy gaze immediately draws the viewer into the small sheet. The calm, leftward-facing pose and the confined space give the view an intimate, contemplative quality. One steps closer to follow the delicate lines, and the sheet thus gains a personal note.
Technique
Executed as an etching, the work is in the first of two states. The etching process allows fine, precise lines characteristic of Hollar's style. At the bottom edge, the sheet has been trimmed by about 1–2 mm into the image.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)