Man met hoed 1739 - 1810

"Man met hoed" is an etching by Johann Daniel Laurentz, created sometime in the late 18th century. In this small, intimate work, we encounter a man, perhaps a laborer or tradesman, rendered with a striking realism. Consider the gaze: averted, suggesting a weariness or resignation. The lines etched by Laurentz capture not just the man’s physical appearance, but also a sense of his inner world shaped by the societal realities of the time. During the 18th century, European society was deeply structured along lines of class and status. Laurentz, working within this context, offers a glimpse into the life of an individual situated lower on the social ladder. It invites us to reflect on the lives of those often unseen, whose stories are etched not only into their faces but into the very fabric of our shared history.