Mr. Trouble (trial proof 1)
1976
Image not available — this artwork is under copyright
View on museum website →Medium
etching with gray and black pastel on wove paper
Dimensions
plate: 44.4 x 34.8 cm (17 1/2 x 13 11/16 in.) sheet: 56.1 x 45 cm (22 1/16 x 17 11/16 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of Ruth Cole Kainen in honor of the artist's 90th birthday
Accession Number
1999.82.47
Art Historical Context
Jacob Kainen's *Mr. Trouble (trial proof 1)*, created in 1976, invites visitors into the experimental side of this esteemed American printmaker's late-career work. As a trial proof—the first impression pulled from the etching plate before the final edition—this piece captures Kainen's process of refinement. Rendered on wove paper with intricate etching lines enhanced by subtle gray and black pastel, it measures a modest plate size of 44.4 x 34.8 cm, allowing for intimate details that reward close viewing. The title evokes a playful, anthropomorphic character, hinting at Kainen's interest in ev...
About the Artist
Jacob Kainen
Jacob Kainen was born on December 7, 1909, in Waterbury, Connecticut, to Russian immigrant parents who nurtured his cultural interests; his father was an inventor, and his mother instilled a love of music and literature. The family relocated to New York City in 1918, where Kainen immersed himself in art through newspaper clippings and visits to the Metropolitan Museum. After graduating from DeWitt...