Henry Hall
Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin
1808
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin
1808
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
You see a small black-and-white print of a man in a dark coat. His face is lit from the side, giving it depth and soft edges. The paper is thin but held firm by a thicker brown backing. This is a mezzotint—ink pressed into rough spots on metal plates. It takes patience to carve such smooth shadows. The print feels warm, even in monochrome. Henry Hall’s face looks quiet, like he’s posing just for us. Try looking up Saint-Mémin, Charles B. J. Févret de next.
