John Augustus Tulk
1808
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1808
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This is a black-and-white portrait of an older man in a dark coat and white cravat. He sits holding a piece of paper, looking slightly to the side with a calm expression. Behind him, a faint sketch of a building or ship is visible, almost like a ghostly background. The artist used a technique called stippling—tiny dots packed together to create shading. This was common in engravings before photography. Next, check out etching to see how artists like this made detailed prints.
