Oude man met bontmuts 1771 - 1774

Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo made this print, "Old Man with a Fur Cap," using etching, a technique that demands planning and skillful execution. Tiepolo would have covered a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant ground. He then used a sharp needle to draw the image, exposing the metal. Next, the plate went into an acid bath, which bit into the exposed lines, creating grooves. The longer it soaks, the deeper the lines become, which means more ink can be held, and that creates darker lines on the final print. After cleaning off the ground, Tiepolo would have inked the plate, wiped the surface clean leaving ink only in the etched lines, and then pressed it onto paper. The result is a mirror image of the original drawing. The quality of line suggests the speed and certainty of the artist’s hand. The print medium also allows for the reproduction and broad circulation of Tiepolo's work, making it accessible to a wider audience beyond the traditional elite art patrons. It’s a reminder that the art world isn’t just about unique masterpieces, but also about how images are spread and shared.