Grotesque old man with flattened nose in profile to left
Original title: Grotesque old man with flattened nose in profile to left
kurzbeschreibung
Made between 1644 and 1652, this etching by Wenceslaus Hollar shows the profile of an old man with a flat nose. The small sheet measures 6.5 × 4.8 cm and is a single print from Hollar's series of grotesque heads, which go back to Leonardo da Vinci.
Description
Seen from the side and facing left, an old man appears with a flat nose, a pale forehead and thick, short hair. His gaze is calm and thoughtful. The empty dark background throws the face into relief. The lines are detailed and carefully laid down to draw out texture and contour. At the upper left are handwritten notes: 'L. da Vinci ince' and 'W. Collar fecit'.
Context
Leonardo da Vinci, famous for his grotesque head studies, served as the model. Hollar made the etching during his stay in England, where he was in the service of the collector Thomas Howard. In the seventeenth century such grotesques counted as studies of physiognomy and as curiosities.
Impact
Precise linework renders the old man's face with great fidelity. The dark, empty setting heightens the intimacy of the portrait and draws the eye to the striking features. Seriousness and caricatural exaggeration combine into a pensive mood.
Technique
In etching, acid bites into the plate to produce the lines. Hollar worked with a fine needle, laying down detailed hatching and cross-hatching that model the shading and texture of the face. The black-and-white result depends on varying line density, with no added colour.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)