Afgehakt hoofd en brandende kaars

About this artwork

aquatint en ets in donkerbruin

Art Historical Context

Henri Charles Guérard’s *Afgehakt hoofd enende kaars* (ed Head and Burning Candle created in 1895, is a striking aquatint etching executed in dark brown ink. just 165 mm high by 100 mm wide, this intimate print invites close contemplation, characteristic of the refined printmaking tradition Guérard championed as a leading French engraver of the fin-de-siècle. Aquatint, the primary technique here combined with etching, allowed Guérard to achieve velvety tonal gradations and subtle textures, mimicking the richness of painting in a graphic medium. Popularized in the 18th century but perfected by 19th-century artists like Guérard—who was influenced by Impressionist circles including Edgar Degas—this method involved dusting resin on the plate and immersing it in acid to create soft, atmospheric effects. The dark brown palette heightens the work’s moody intensity. The title evokes memento mori symbolism, with the severed head and flickering candle underscoring themes of mortality and life’s transience, resonant in late 19th-century Symbolist and post-Impressionist art. Guérard’s mastery of printmaking made such evocative imagery accessible, bridging elite painting traditions with the democratizing power of multiples for collectors and enthusiasts alike.