Bust of a deformed man wearing a bulbous hat in profile to the left
Original title: Bust of a deformed man wearing a bulbous hat in profile to the left
kurzbeschreibung
A man in profile with distorted features and a bulbous hat: this etching by Wenceslaus Hollar, made between 1644 and 1652, presents a striking face. The black-and-white print is a single state and belongs to Hollar's engagement with physiognomic oddities.
Description
The head, turned to the left, fills the plate, with an exaggerated nose and an unusual facial shape catching the eye. The hat looks bulbous and is worked in detail, taking up much of the image. The background stays bare, emphasizing head and hat. A signature at lower right indicates the origin. The drawing consists entirely of black-and-white etched lines.
Context
Hollar made this etching between 1644 and 1652, during his time in England. Depictions of physical deformity were part of a 17th-century medical and artistic interest in human anomalies. Hollar often worked from other artists' designs; the exact source here is not recorded.
Impact
The viewer's gaze is drawn immediately to the head and the conspicuous hat, while the reduced background avoids any distraction. The precise linework renders the deformed features soberly and without pathos. From the contrast between the detailed hat and the sparse surroundings comes a concentrated, almost documentary effect.
Technique
This is an etching in the only state, meaning only one printing stage exists. Line etching allows fine lines and detailed modeling of facial features and hat. The plate is very small (5.6 × 4.3 cm) and was trimmed at the upper left corner.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)