Head of an Old Man

Art Historical Context

Kerr Eby's *Head of an Old Man (ca. 1918) is a poignant graphic arts print from the Smithsonian American Art Museum, gifted in memory of Harry Katz. at the close of World War I, bust-length portrait captures the weathered face of an elderly figure wearing a hat, rendered with Eby's masterful etching technique. As a leading American printmaker his era, Eby was renowned for his realistic depictions of human subjects and dramatic scenes, often drawing from his experiences as a war illustrator in France. Eby's style reflects the Ashcan School's influence and the broader etching revival, emphasizi...

About the Artist

Kerr Eby

Kerr Eby (1889–1946) was a Canadian-born American printmaker and painter who became one of the most accomplished etchers of his generation and a powerful chronicler of the experience of war. Born in Tokyo to Canadian parents, he grew up in New York and studied at the Pratt Institute and the Art Students League under George Bridgman. Eby volunteered for service in World War I and saw action in Fra...