The Librarian 1930

"The Librarian" is a 1930 etching by Danish artist Martin Petersen (1870-1956). The print depicts a man in a suit standing in a library, surrounded by books. He holds a book in one hand and reaches for another on a shelf with the other. The composition is focused on the figure, who is positioned centrally in the scene. Petersen’s use of meticulous hatching and cross-hatching creates a detailed and realistic depiction of the subject and the library setting, highlighting the quiet solemnity of the act of reading.