The Masked Comedian Playing a Guitar

About this work

This sketch shows a lanky figure in a loose, baggy outfit playing a guitar. The character’s face is hidden behind a mask with a long, curved beak and wild hair. One hand grips the guitar neck, while the other strums the strings. The outfit has big buttons down the front, and the whole scene looks like it’s drawn in quick, scratchy lines. The artist used a technique that lets ink sit in the grooves of the metal plate, creating sharp, dark lines. This kind of drawing was often used for jokes or quick observations back then. Check out more about etching to see how artists make prints like this.