In the following text, “kratz ritz ratz” and “wisch” and any variations of these words are used as a written representation of a sound.

1645
Time of day unknown
The season too
Place uncertain
Space unknown

“Turn sideways, let me see your profile!
Sit still! kratz ritz kratz
On a hand-sized
copper-red metal wish kratz
the other holds a needle with style.
I scrape, scratch, everywhere…
you better not flee…
kratz kratz
This takes time!
Do you understand me?

First I look… kratz ritz kratz
Then I scratch…
what I see – no, what I want to see!
into the metal ritz ritz kratz
in my style.
Tilt your head back a bit!
I’ll push it myself –
Hold still!
kratz ratz kratz

I etch blacken roll
print it on paper too
kratz ritz ratz
and then maybe I’ll show you, you.

Being, mouse, man and beast
heeded as a feast,
landscapes, marvelous Genesis
calendar pages, animal nemeses,
lords of rank and kings so genty,
elegant ladies ritz ratz plenty,
London, Covent Garden, the Piazza
Site plans, squares and Grazia.

An elephant’s tamer upright, never leaning,
biblical images, Englishmen convening,
gentlemen, all obviously making meaning,
another one two three buttons ritz ritz, and that’s it,
not like my distorted heads that I once…anyway let’s move on a bit…
how interesting your skin,
how tightly coiled your hair,

ratz ritz | ritz ritz ratz | ritz ritz ritz ritz ritz
your lips ritz ritz so strange…
This is how you look into space, ratz kratz
You’re not enjoying your place?
Sit still!

I want to draw you,
consider it an honor! ritz ritz ritz
This is the hard part: The white collar.
It brings forth a strong contrast ratz ratz ritz
whether it really exists or not.
I decide on my own ratz ratz ritz
–alone – what remains undefined.

I saw under the collar elsewhere
ritz ritz ritz
a ring sticking out in the air.
Ha… and worn by an object.
ritz ritz schlitz
Who is the owner?
Soon you can leave too…
I already have two of you…
and an older one… there was so much anger in his face…
Don’t move from your place!

Whose son are you? ratz ritz kratz
Maybe I’ll add the mother or sister too…
Then later, the N-word of my title will trouble you anew,
it is replaced ritz ritz,
changed from “boy,” to “young man” ritz ritz ritz,
and historians, all men,
will write “child.”
You probably think I’m stone-blind,
because I don’t see you in your time
ritz ritz

The wind of your paths,
that which truly surrounds you, ratz ratz kratz
whether there is sorrow
or sadness…
it’s quiet here… kratz ritz kratz.
No one is interested in you!
But with this ritz ritz
You’ll survive ritz ratz
me too…
…on paper.”

Artist’s name
Wenceslas Hollar
1607-1677

Child’s name
Name is unknown
Biographical data is also unknown

Translated by: Melody Makeda Ledwon

Patricia Vester

Illustration | Writing | Intervention | Process Facilitation | Anti-racist Art Education

Audio statement by Patricia Vester on Wenceslas Hollar: Portrait of a young Black boy in three-quarter profile*, 1645 supported by the ‘Weiterkommen!’ programme of Zentrum für Kulturelle Teilhabe Baden-Württemberg

*About the original title & trigger warning:

The original title of the work according to the catalogue of paintings and its 2020 revision use discriminatory terms that the museum does not wish to reproduce.

Old title “Junger N****kopf“ changed on 3.12.2020. Old title “Brustbild eines dunkelhäutigen Mannes” changed in September 2024.