Head of a Man in a Fur Cap, Crying Out c. 1629

This etching, "Head of a Man in a Fur Cap, Crying Out," was made by Rembrandt van Rijn, using a copper plate and etching tools. The etching process is central to understanding the image. Rembrandt would have coated the copper plate with wax, then scratched into it with a needle, exposing the metal. Immersing the plate in acid, he would bite the lines into the metal, which would then be inked and printed. The material qualities of the copper – its hardness and receptivity to acid – define the stark contrasts in this image. The depicted figure, with his anguished expression, seems to be a study of raw emotion, but also the material of the fur cap, etched with precision, hints at a society deeply engaged in commerce and consumption. The amount of labor involved in creating the etching is palpable, reflecting Rembrandt's mastery and the social context of artistic production in the Dutch Golden Age. Paying attention to the materials and making processes allows us to see how Rembrandt elevated printmaking to an art form, blurring the lines between craft and fine art.