Head of an old man with tufts of curly hair around ear in profile to left 1644 - 1652

Editor: We're looking at Wenceslaus Hollar's "Head of an old man with tufts of curly hair around ear in profile to left," made sometime between 1644 and 1652, it's an etching. The detail achieved with just lines is pretty incredible; you can practically feel the texture of his skin. What strikes you about the visual components of this work? Curator: The masterful use of line is indeed paramount here. Note how Hollar employs varied densities and directions of hatching to sculpt form and create tonal contrasts. Observe, in particular, the neck, where densely packed, short lines suggest deep shadows, contrasting with the more sparsely etched areas on the forehead which indicate reflected light. It’s a calculated exercise in pictorial structure. Editor: So, the lines themselves are the real subject of interest, more than, say, who this man might have been? Curator: Precisely. We can speculate, of course, but it is the structural elegance of the composition and the technique through which the artist coaxes such form that arrests our attention. Ask yourself: does the subject exemplify an inquiry into, or investigation of, a naturally occurring structure? How are patterns employed in an unconventional manner? Editor: The consistent use of hatching does give the image a real sense of depth and solidity. It’s almost sculptural in its effect, which feels interesting for a print. Curator: Exactly. Hollar transforms a two-dimensional surface into an illusion of three-dimensionality through the strategic manipulation of line. The formal properties become the content. What are some additional components you noticed about the structure? Editor: The way the background is handled, with simple, parallel lines, almost creates a sense of infinite space behind the head, emphasizing its form. I see how much focus Hollar put on form! Thank you. Curator: My pleasure. This close consideration hopefully informs an appreciation for Hollar's expertise with a formalist perspective.