Portret van Ernst Haeckel 1909

This etching by Emil Orlik presents a portrait of Ernst Haeckel in a quiet, contemplative moment. The etching process itself is all about mark-making, building up an image through lines and textures, and here, the cross-hatching and delicate lines create a sense of depth. Look at how the lines form Haeckel's beard and the folds of his blanket, it's like Orlik is mapping the landscape of Haeckel’s form. The texture is delicate, almost like a whisper, giving the whole piece a dreamlike quality. The limited palette makes you focus on the form, the contrast of light and shadow. I am reminded of Whistler, maybe, or other tonalist printmakers, but Orlik brings his own sensibility. It's about capturing a presence, a feeling, rather than just a likeness, that’s something that continues to interest artists, to this day.