Oude man met baard 1771 - 1774

Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo created this etching of an old bearded man in the 18th century. Tiepolo was Venetian, and Venice was then at the height of its artistic innovation. The image bears the mark of its culture: the sitter's loose cap and flowing beard evoke the fashions and theatrical flair of the period. But it also hints at the prevailing social conditions. Etchings like this were becoming more common in the 1700s as a new market developed for affordable art. The rise of a middle class with disposable income meant artists could circulate their work more widely. This print may have been part of a series, perhaps sold to tourists eager for a souvenir of their visit to Venice. To fully understand this print, we need to examine the institutions that shaped its production and consumption, from the art market to the printing press. The historian's role is to piece together these contexts, revealing the complex social life of even the simplest image.