Jean Joseph Coiron
Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin
1809
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin
1809
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This tiny engraving shows a man’s face in sharp black-and-white. The artist cut fine lines into metal to make shadows deep and highlights pop. You can almost feel the crisp light on his cheekbones. Saint-Mémin made these prints by hand, one at a time, so every copy feels unique. He traveled the U.S. in the early 1800s, turning presidents and farmers into striking portraits that still catch the eye. Look up Saint-Mémin, Charles B. J. Févret de.
