Artwork
Man with a Penknife
Man with a Penknife is an ink print by the Baroque artist Salomon Koninck. It dates from 1632 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Salomon Koninck’s *Man with a Penknife* is a black‑and‑white print executed in 1632. The image was produced by combining etching and engraving techniques on laid paper, a common support for Dutch prints of the early seventeenth century. The composition centers on an older, robed figure seated with his hands on his knees, a small box or book before him, and a bird perched above his shoulder.
Subject & Meaning
The work portrays a solitary man absorbed in a quiet activity, a motif typical of Dutch genre art that emphasizes individual contemplation. The presence of the penknife, the book‑like object, and the bird may allude to themes of study, craftsmanship, or the passage of time, reflecting the period’s interest in everyday life rendered with psychological depth.
Technique & Style
Koninck employed fine, closely spaced lines to render the texture of the figure’s wrinkled skin, the folds of his loose robe, and the delicate fabric of the surrounding curtain. The interplay of etched areas and engraved details creates a subtle tonal range, giving the surface a near‑three‑dimensional quality despite the monochrome medium.
History & Provenance
Born in Amsterdam in 1609, Koninck trained under artists such as Pieter Lastman and worked within the circle of Rembrandt and the studio of Hendrick van Uylenburgh. Throughout his career he frequently reproduced compositions by Rembrandt, and *Man with a Penknife* exemplifies his own approach to genre subjects during the Dutch Golden Age.
Context
The print belongs to the Dutch Golden Age, a period noted for its meticulous genre scenes and restrained colour palettes in painting, which also influenced printmaking. Prints like this served both as affordable artworks for a growing middle class and as studies of human character, aligning with contemporary cultural values of modesty and introspection.
Artist & collection
Artist
Salomon (de) Koninck (1609 – buried 8 August 1656) was a Dutch painter of genre scenes and portraits, and an engraver.
A Philosopher
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A Hermit Saint
The Reader (Le liseur)
An Old Man Reading
Convalescent (Le convalescent)
Archeologist (L'archeologue)
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An Old Man Seated at a Table, His Head Resting on His Right Hand (recto)
Copy of Student at a Table by Candelight
Old Man Shading His Eyes with His Hand
Abraham Caressing Isaac