About this artwork

Klee’s humorous depiction of an old man counting on his fingers is an excellent example of what a relatively deeply etched line looks like. The roughness of the line is directly related to the way the acid bites down into the metal plate and eventually out into the edges. When the plate is inked and wiped, the lines hold the ink in an irregularly bitten channel which prints as a slightly wavering line, adding to the overall effect of mental activity. The figure is recognisable as an old man from his bald head and toothless mouth, while the extra lines around the man’s hands indicate the movement of his fingers as he counts.

Updated before 2020

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Paul Klee

Paul Klee