Bust of a Young Man, Self-portrait (Knabenkopf, Selbstporträt)
1922
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1922
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This face looks like it’s carved from rough stone, with sharp lines and deep shadows. The hair and beard are made of quick, jagged strokes, almost like scratches. Two small red spots—fingerprints—sit on the cheeks, breaking the greenish-gray tones. The artist used a mix of etching and engraving, then added color by hand. The rough texture makes the face feel both real and strange at once. Next, check out etching to see how artists create prints like this.
