Hoofd van een Zwitserse boer met hoed c. 1860 - 1913

Curator: This is Eugène Burnand’s "Head of a Swiss Farmer with Hat," an engraving produced sometime between 1860 and 1913. Editor: It’s remarkable, the detail achieved with what I assume are simple engraving techniques. Look at how light dances on his weathered face, especially the subtle shadows under the hat. The artist really captures a sense of quiet dignity, don’t you think? Curator: Absolutely. Burnand came from a wealthy family but dedicated his art to depicting rural life and the working class in Switzerland. The choice to render a common farmer, not some aristocratic figure, is very deliberate. His realism elevated everyday subjects to the level of high art, a powerful political act at the time. Editor: Indeed. And the lines themselves, observe their almost relentless texture on his skin! There's so much visual information being delivered on this small plane—you get the man's life written all over him. I also think his expression is open. Curator: His style also resonates with the rise of nationalism and folk movements across Europe. Presenting an idealized yet honest depiction of rural populations became a way to define national identity. There’s a whole network of social meaning embedded in that humble hat, too, speaking to profession, class, regional belonging… Editor: It's fascinating how the artist conveys the weight and texture of that material purely through tonal variations in the engraved lines. The detail in rendering the folds, and the way it shadows the face—pure visual magic. It pulls you in to think about his character too, even down to his cultural background. Curator: The print's accessibility also underscores Burnand's mission, allowing a broader audience to engage with these depictions of Swiss identity and rural life. The imagery itself becomes part of the political discourse. Editor: The composition leads the eye, undeniably, but I wonder at the scale; it draws our eye right into the depth within a minimal image. Curator: Considering the artist's biography and socio-political conditions under which it was produced grants access to a whole range of interesting insights here. Editor: And focusing on the line work and tonal depth certainly bring this fellow, and his dignity, to life.