Portret van een oude man 1594 - 1662

This is a small etching titled "Portret van een oude man" by Gerard ter Borch, made sometime before his death in 1662. The most striking aspect is the meticulous use of line. Ter Borch masterfully employs hatching and cross-hatching to define form, create depth, and evoke texture. Note how the density of lines darkens the shadows, giving weight to the man's cap and clothing, while sparser lines suggest the delicate wisps of his beard and hair. The composition, tightly framed, focuses our attention on the man's face and upper body. This close perspective allows for an intimate engagement with the subject. The interplay of light and shadow is particularly effective. The subtle gradations across the man's face suggest a play of light that not only models his features but also hints at the passage of time, etched as deeply as the lines in the plate. This calculated deployment of line and tone invites us to reflect on the themes of age, wisdom, and the very nature of representation.