Oude man met borstelige wenkbrauwen en baard 1757 - 1774

Editor: We're looking at "Old Man with Bushy Eyebrows and Beard," a print by Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo, created sometime between 1757 and 1774. The etching is striking, a kind of haunting portrait. There's such an incredible texture achieved through the engraving. What catches your eye most about it? Curator: It's a face sculpted from time itself, isn't it? Tiepolo's skill in capturing the weight of years in those etched lines… It’s really something. The chaotic scribble that builds up form and texture. Does it make you think of anyone in particular? Editor: Maybe a wandering philosopher or a hermit… there’s something untamed about him, with that wild hair and beard. I imagine him living in isolation, deep in thought. Curator: Yes! There's that baroque drama, that intensity. Perhaps Tiepolo found inspiration in theatre? It reminds me of commedia dell'arte. Notice the way he emphasizes the face—almost mask-like. It has this exaggerated quality. The lines, while detailed, also seem to obscure rather than reveal, adding a layer of mystery to the subject. Do you agree? Editor: I do. It's a face full of character, but also guarded. I wonder what stories he could tell? Curator: Absolutely. The print leaves much to the imagination. Art historians have linked the subject to the world of masquerade and theatre which fits perfectly in the context of the Serenissima - or 18th century Venice. The beauty of this is it remains open to interpretation! The character in this image seems to say "Think what you want about me; I'm not giving away any of my secrets" Doesn't this kind of ambiguous feeling move you? Editor: It definitely does. Seeing all that implied drama makes me want to dive deeper into the history of that period and maybe even go see a play! Curator: Fantastic! Maybe, just maybe, a part of this man is somehow in each and every one of us.