Hoofd van oude man met baard 1732 - 1776

This portrait, "Head of an Old Man with Beard," was created by Gilles Demarteau using the technique of crayon manner engraving. This was a printmaking innovation that allowed for soft, chalk-like effects on paper. Consider how this material process shaped the artwork's appearance. Demarteau skillfully mimicked the texture of a chalk or crayon drawing, using a tool called a roulette to create tiny dots and dashes. This gives the image a soft, almost hazy quality, particularly noticeable in the beard and around the face. The technique itself has social significance. Crayon manner engraving emerged in the 18th century as a way to reproduce drawings quickly and efficiently, catering to a growing market for prints. It bridged the gap between the unique artwork and the mass-produced image, making art more accessible but also raising questions about originality and value. Demarteau’s mastery of this technique speaks to the skilled labor involved, even in reproductive printmaking. So, next time you look at a print, remember the artist’s hand and the social context in which it was made.