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Alexander Hamilton

Timothy Cole

1922

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Early Modern Portrait

Dominant colour

Alexander Hamilton is a 1922 ink by Timothy Cole, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Timothy Cole
When & what style?: 1922
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This is a black-and-white portrait of a man in a high-collared coat. His face is serious, with short hair and a neatly tied cravat. The background is plain, putting all focus on his expression and clothing. The artist used tiny lines to build up the image, making the light areas pop against the dark. It’s not painted—it’s carved into wood. Try looking up engraving to see how artists create depth with just lines.