Mr. Trouble (trial proof 5)
1976
Image not available — this artwork is under copyright
View on museum website →Medium
etching, engraving, and aquatint on wove paper
Dimensions
plate: 44.5 x 34.9 cm (17 1/2 x 13 3/4 in.) sheet: 56.3 x 45.3 cm (22 3/16 x 17 13/16 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
1999.82.51
Art Historical Context
**Mr. Trouble (trial proof 5)** is a captivating print by American artist Jacob Kainen, created in 1976. Kainen, a master printmaker and painter known for his abstract explorations, produced this work late in his prolific career, blending intricate line work with tonal depth. As a trial proof—the fifth in a series of experimental impressions—it offers a rare glimpse into the artist's iterative process, where adjustments to ink, pressure, or wiping refine the final image before editioning. Crafted through etching, engraving, and aquatint on smooth wove paper, the piece showcases Kainen's techn...
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...