Knox
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 small black-and-white print shows Henry Knox staring straight ahead with sharp cheekbones and a calm expression. The artist carved tiny lines into a metal plate, then pressed wet paper onto it, leaving a velvety dark background behind Knox’s face. You can feel the texture in the shadows—each line gives depth without color. Saint-Mémin made over 700 portraits like this in early 1800s America, selling them to wealthy clients who wanted crisp, lifelike images. His prints look almost photographic even though they’re handmade. Try Saint-Mémin, Charles B. J. Févret de next.
