Hoofd van een oude man met baard 1708 - 1779

This etching, Head of an Old Bearded Man, was made by Honoré Coussin, an 18th-century French artist. Coussin lived and worked during the height of the Enlightenment, a period characterized by a renewed interest in classical art and rational thought. Coussin, however, seems to be looking elsewhere. The image’s rough lines and concentration on a man of the working class evoke the work of Rembrandt. Though Coussin lived in France, his compositions were often of Dutch Golden Age-style. This interest in the art of other nations was somewhat common due to the increasing internationalization of the art market. Artists had to broaden their horizons to succeed in the art world of the 1700s. Understanding such economic and social factors is critical to art historical analysis. By consulting historical sources, we can better understand the institutions that shaped art production in this period.