Old Man with White Collar and Pointed Hat 1610 - 1685

Curator: This is "Old Man with White Collar and Pointed Hat," an etching by Adriaen van Ostade, created sometime between 1610 and 1685, and it's part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection. Editor: My immediate sense is one of striking directness. There's a lot of careful cross-hatching that really brings him into focus, rendering his clothing almost like woven textile, but then those penetrating eyes hold you in their unwavering gaze. Curator: Ostade excelled at portraying everyday life, particularly the lives of peasants, and he often infused these portrayals with symbolic meaning, hinting at morality or the fleeting nature of existence. Note his garments, suggesting humbleness. This evokes associations of wisdom gained through the trials of ordinary life. The hat, quite notable, is itself a mark of an ordinary burgher, signifying station in the workaday world, rather than belonging to aristocracy. Editor: Agreed, there's that immediate contrast between the meticulously rendered face and the broader, sketchier rendering of his clothes. The lines defining his face seem etched with a more profound intentionality compared to those forming the textures and tones of his garb, creating visual tension. It’s interesting to consider if this was meant to elevate the importance of character and expression. Curator: Precisely. Look, for example, at the treatment of light and shadow on his face. Ostade's etching skillfully emphasizes the weathered textures of his skin. These deep lines are like glyphs, or symbolic furrows of hardship etched upon his being. One can trace a symbolic association between the lines of life and those same careful etched strokes. Editor: And the lines themselves, though delicate, are confident. There's a clarity of intent in each mark, especially around the eyes and mouth. It draws you in, and really makes the most of what appears a relatively simple compositional layout, focusing as it does only on the old man’s features, especially the piercing directness of his eyes. It does indeed tell a very powerful, though concise, story. Curator: Indeed. It is through those considered details that a wealth of unspoken stories of aging, toil, and insight are conjured into being for we who stand to gaze upon it centuries later. Editor: So, while it may appear, on first viewing, simple, the work, when decoded formally and materially, opens up realms of symbolism, storytelling, and history.