Portret van Everhardus Johannes Potgieter 1908

Pieter Dupont made this portrait of Everhardus Johannes Potgieter as an etching. You can see the real character of the mark-making in the face, the way each tiny line creates a shadow and a form. It’s a real process; he’s building up the image bit by bit. I find myself drawn to the details of the face, each carefully etched line contributing to the overall effect. The lines are darker in the beard, where the etching tool was sunk deeper to convey the shadow and depth, and more faded on the forehead. The eye is like a little jewel, a tiny mark which conveys a sparkle. You can see so much about the person from that small part of the image. This piece reminds me of the work of Lucian Freud, another master of portraiture. Both artists create intimacy, but in different ways, through their work. Ultimately, art is a conversation, a continuous dialogue across time, where artists borrow, respond, and challenge each other's ideas.