Oude man met baard

This print, "Oude man met baard," or "Old Man with Beard," was made by Georg Friedrich Schmidt in the 18th century. The medium is etching, a printmaking process that demands real technical skill. The artist covers a metal plate with a waxy, protective ground, then scratches an image into it with a needle, exposing the metal underneath. The plate is then submerged in acid, which bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves. These are then filled with ink, and the plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the image. Look closely, and you can see the subtle tonal variations, the result of Schmidt's control of the etching process. The real subject of this work isn't just the old man himself, but the way that line and texture can be manipulated to create the illusion of depth and form. Schmidt's skill is evident in the way he coaxes a range of effects from a single material. By focusing on the making, we can appreciate the level of craftsmanship involved in creating this image.