Man met hoge muts 1804 - 1842

Anthonie Willem Hendrik Nolthenius de Man created this print using etching, a process that democratized image-making. It allowed artists to produce multiples, a departure from unique paintings or sculptures. In etching, a metal plate is coated with wax, the design is scratched into the wax, and then the plate is submerged in acid. The acid bites into the exposed metal, creating the lines that will hold ink. This print is all about line, with the figure and especially the hat rendered through dense crosshatching. The effect is both precise and lively. This image of a man in a high hat raises questions about labor, class, and the culture of the 19th century. The hat, a signifier of status, is meticulously rendered, and contrasts with the man's somewhat worn features. Nolthenius de Man skillfully uses the etching process to capture the textures and details of both the hat and the man's face, hinting at the social complexities of his time. Recognizing the labor that went into this image allows us to appreciate the technique of etching and consider the broader context in which it was made.