Oude man met een pijp, lezend in een boek Possibly 1934

Elias Grossman created this etching of an old man reading a book, with a pipe, on a surface of 138 by 182 millimetres. The composition is dominated by the figure, positioned off-center, drawing the eye across the page from left to right. Grossman's use of line is remarkable; observe the fine, almost thread-like strokes that define the contours of the man's face and beard, creating depth and texture. The hatching technique, denser in the shadows and sparser in the highlights, models the form and suggests the fall of light. Note how this technique is used to differentiate the textures of the skin, beard, and the book's pages. The composition directs our gaze not only to the book but also to the subject's face, encouraging a reading of the figure as a sign of wisdom, contemplation, and perhaps, the passage of time. This work invites us to consider how graphic form can capture not just likeness, but also the very essence of human experience and the dialogue between viewer, subject, and artist.