Thomas Eakins 1964

This is Leonard Baskin's print of Thomas Eakins, made with etching on a plate. It's not about slickness or perfection, but about letting the process, the act of making, really *show*. The texture of the print gives the work its unique flavor. Look how the ink catches on the paper, especially in the hair. Those tiny lines almost seem to vibrate, giving the portrait a kind of restless energy. The lines aren't just descriptive, they're expressive. They're about the touch, the pressure of the tool, the way the acid bites into the metal. And see how Baskin captures the planes of Eakins’ face? It’s not just about likeness; it's about the weight of a life, the accumulation of experience. You get the feeling that Baskin is in conversation with someone like Goya, where the darkness feels like a mirror reflecting back the complexities of being human. It's not resolved, or easily pinned down, but that's where the magic lies.