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Old Farmer with a Hat

Wilhelm Leibl

1876

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century Portrait

Dominant colour

Old Farmer with a Hat is a 1876 ink by Wilhelm Leibl, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Wilhelm Leibl
When & what style?: 1876 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This etching shows an elderly farmer with a hat, his face weathered and his eyes looking away. He is dressed in a simple, dark outfit and holds a walking stick in his right hand. The farmer's face is the main focus of the etching, with intricate details that convey a sense of age and weariness. The artist has used a range of techniques to create texture and depth in the image, from the roughness of the farmer's skin to the smoothness of his hat. The etching is a great example of the Realism movement, which focused on depicting everyday life and people in a truthful and unromanticized way. If you're interested in learning more about this style, you might want to check out the work of other Realist artists.