Artwork
George Washington
George Washington is an ink print by Max Rosenthal. It dates from 1902 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower center in plate: Copyright by Max Rosenthal, Phila, 1902.; lower right in graphite: Max Rosenthal text at lower left on affixed sheet: Copyright by Max Rosenthal. Phila. 1902. / The Edition of this plate is Limited to 25 sets in 4 states of the plate / Subscribed for by 1 James T. Mitchell 2 Thomas Addis Emmet 3 Hampton L. Carson 4 E. B. Holden 5 Z. T. Hollingsworth 6 George R. Barrett 7 George W. Cram 8 C. W. McAlpin 9 Wm. F. Havemeyer 10 Edward G. Kennedy 11 Chas. E. Goodspeed 12 Charles F. Warwick 13 Stan. V. Henkels 14 Chas. H. Lawrence 15 C. C. Lawrence 16 Joseph F. Sabin 17 Jacob E. Barr 18 Wm. H. Patterson 19 Chas. Henry Hart 20 C. McN. Stauffer 21 William J. Campbell 22 Robert M. Lindsay 23 C. De F. Burns 24 Max Rosenthal 25 Albert Rosenthal
About this work
Overview
This work is a black mezzotint portrait of George Washington, executed by the American printmaker Max Rosenthal in 1902. The image is presented on wove paper, employing a chine collé technique that adheres a thin layer of paper to the surface, enhancing the tonal depth of the print.
Technique & Style
Rosenthal employed the mezzotint process, a labor‑intensive method that creates rich, velvety shadows through a roughened plate subsequently smoothed to produce highlights. The addition of chine collé, a paper‑bonding method, allows finer detail and a smoother finish, characteristic of early twentieth‑century American printmaking.
History & Provenance
Created at the turn of the twentieth century, the print reflects the period’s renewed interest in commemorating founding figures. While specific ownership records are limited, the work has been cited in catalogues of Rosenthal’s oeuvre and appears in collections focusing on American historical portraiture.
Artist & collection
