Oude man met rol papier 1601 - 1657

Pieter Serwouters created this engraving, "Old Man with a Scroll," using a printmaking process. The image is made by carefully cutting lines into a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper. The stark contrast in tone is characteristic of engravings, and contributes to the image's powerful directness. Serwouters has also deftly captured the textures of the man's fur-lined coat, his wrinkled face, and the smooth surface of the paper roll. Engraving was a skilled trade, demanding years of apprenticeship. The engraver translated designs onto printing plates, which could then be reproduced many times. The work involved long hours and meticulous labor, reflecting a growing system of commercial image production and the increasing value placed on visual information in society. Through Serwouters’ artistry, a relatively commonplace technique takes on great expressive force. It reminds us that even the most reproducible images are rooted in specific skills and materials.