Oude man met baard 1704 - 1765

Jan Lauwryn Krafft’s “Old Man With Beard” is a small yet compelling print, made through the exacting process of etching. Think of the labor involved: the metal plate would first be coated with a waxy ground. The artist then scratched an image into this surface, exposing the metal. Finally, the plate was submerged in acid, which bit into the lines, creating the recessed image that would hold the ink. The network of etched lines creates both the form of the old man and the fall of light across his brow, beard and shoulders. Note how the concentration of lines suggests shadow, and their relative absence, highlights. This was not a quick process, and speaks to a culture of skill, patience, and craft. Prints like this one would have circulated widely, carrying the artist’s vision across long distances. So it can be considered a work of art, but also an example of early information technology. By attending to the way it was made, we appreciate the significance of this humble yet powerful image.