Hoofd van een oude man 1870 - 1913

Here we see ‘Head of an Old Man,’ an intimate etching by Jos Ratinckx. A rectangular frame focuses our attention on a face etched in delicate lines, capturing the essence of aged contemplation. The portrait's structure, with its play of light and shadow, evokes a sense of depth and introspective calm. Ratinckx uses hatching and cross-hatching to construct form and volume. Look at how the concentration of lines darkens the shaded areas around the eyes and cheeks, contrasting with the lighter, more sparse lines that define the forehead and hair. This manipulation of tone not only gives the face its three-dimensionality but also communicates the weight of experience etched into the subject’s features. The work engages with the semiotic tradition of portraiture, where the face is not merely a physical likeness but a map of inner character. The lines serve as signifiers of time, experience, and perhaps, a deep, untold story. In its formal structure, this etching invites us to contemplate the dialogue between visibility and knowledge.