John Wart
Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin
1798
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin
1798
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This tiny print shows a man’s face in profile, all sharp lines and deep shadows. The artist used a tool to scratch tiny dots onto a metal plate, then inked it. The result is a soft glow on the skin against a dark background. Mezzotint gives prints this silky look by roughing the plate first. This style was big in the late 1700s for portraits. It made faces feel alive under the light. Try looking up Saint-Mémin, Charles B. J. Févret de.
