Artwork
En olding
En olding is a photography by Unknown. It dates from 1734 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
En olding, attributed to the artist known as 757_person, dates to around 1734 and is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. The work is a monochrome photographic image that presents a close-up of an elderly male figure, emphasizing the texture of his hair, beard, and weathered skin.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait depicts an older man with a full white beard and hair, his shoulders partially visible. The composition offers no identifying details, leaving the sitter’s identity and purpose ambiguous, inviting viewers to consider themes of age, experience, and the passage of time.
Technique & Style
Executed in black‑and‑white, the image employs soft, directional lighting that illuminates one side of the face while casting the opposite side into shadow. This chiaroscuro effect creates a three‑dimensional impression of the hair and skin, highlighting subtle tonal variations and texture.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1734, En olding entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings at an unspecified date. The work remains catalogued under the artist’s designation 757_person, with no further documented changes in ownership.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
