Mand med hat og cigar 1881

Editor: So here we have "Man with Hat and Cigar," an etching by Frans Schwartz, created in 1881. The first thing that strikes me is how… etched it is! The lines are so prominent, and the texture gives him such a grizzled, almost world-weary look. What do you see in it? Curator: Ah, yes! The soul shining through the etching… I see a quiet rebellion, a gentleman caught between worlds. Schwartz, you know, loved capturing the in-between moments. The very act of him pausing, cigar in mouth –it speaks of contemplation. And look at that hat; it suggests status, a role he plays for the world, but his eyes tell a different story. He’s seen some things, hasn't he? The man doesn't need to express to us what he thinks, that’s there for all to see within the artist's expression of himself within his expression of his subject! What do you think about the overall affect, considering that Schwartz could have painted a pristine businessman if he’d truly desired? Editor: He really does look like he contains a story… you know, I initially just thought of it as a portrait of some rich dude smoking, but now I can see that this etching conveys so much more. It’s almost… vulnerable? Curator: Vulnerable! I love that. Precisely. These portraits were, I think, exercises for Schwartz to reflect, too, right? Maybe a look into a possible future for the artist himself? What truths might this reveal of our artist, do you wonder? Editor: Hmmm, it makes me think about the power of portraiture to go beyond just likeness – it captures the artist’s ideas too, or how he thinks or *feels* about the sitter. Curator: Yes! The artist shares their view, a fleeting truth from their perspective of another. To what greater purpose is there? Beautiful.