Cavalier 1847 - 1890

John-Lewis Brown's etching, Cavalier, presents us with a scene dominated by a mounted figure, observed from the rear. The monochromatic palette and the textural richness achieved through the etching process immediately draw the eye. The composition, a careful balance of dark and light, evokes a sense of depth despite the print's small scale. Brown uses line and form to create a visual hierarchy. The Cavalier and his steed command the center, their forms solid and defined. The figures attending to the horse are rendered with a looser hand, and a diffusion in the background suggests a world beyond immediate clarity. The etching’s materiality, with its textured surface and tonal gradations, enhances the narrative, inviting us to consider the interplay between visibility and concealment. Brown's mastery lies in his ability to suggest narrative and mood through the deployment of form and texture.