John Syng Dorsey, M.D.
1819
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1819
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This is a black-and-white portrait of a man in a dark coat and cravat. His hair is neatly combed back, and he’s adjusting his collar with one hand. The background is plain, keeping all focus on his face and posture. The print has fine, textured lines—this is an engraving, not a painting. The words below the image call him "John Syng Dorsey, M.D.," and mention he taught anatomy. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like this carved detailed images into metal plates.
