Gammel mand med tvedelt gråt skæg 1885

Frans Schwartz made this small etching, "Old Man with Split Grey Beard," using a metal plate and acid. The fine lines you see are actually tiny grooves incised into the metal. Schwartz would have coated the plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance, then drawn through it with a sharp needle. When dipped in acid, the exposed metal would be eaten away, creating the lines that hold the ink. The image is then transferred to paper. What's so compelling here is how this indirect process allows for incredible detail, precisely capturing the old man’s weary expression and the texture of his beard. The material qualities of the etching medium—the biting action of acid, the fineness of the needle, and the receptivity of the paper—all contribute to the overall effect. It’s a labor-intensive process, demanding both technical skill and artistic vision. By appreciating the making, we can see that Schwartz wasn’t just creating an image, but also engaging with the rich history of printmaking as a craft.