Oude man met baard en boek in de hand 1739 - 1804

Johann Andreas Benjamin Nothnagel created this etching, "Old Man with Beard and Book in Hand," in the late 18th century. The man’s gaze is cast downwards towards the book in his hands, symbolizing introspection, while his beard denotes wisdom and experience. In Enlightenment-era Europe, intellectual and religious authority was largely the domain of older men. Nothnagel both invokes and subtly questions this trope. The softness with which Nothnagel renders the old man allows us to feel his humanity and vulnerability. He isn’t portrayed as powerful, but as thoughtful. The print captures a quiet moment of contemplation, and the etching's intimate scale asks us to consider the value of personal reflection, especially during a period of immense social and political change.