Wilson (early portrait) 1919

This monochrome portrait of Wilson was made by Timothy Cole, but I’m not sure when. It’s all about how line can build form, how the pressure of a tool can suggest depth, volume, and even mood. Look how Cole uses etching to build up the image, a real labor-intensive process that’s all about control, but also about letting the material do its thing. The texture is amazing, isn't it? Notice the way the light catches on Wilson's face, especially around the eyes. There’s something so alive in those details. Then, zoom out and see how that sharpness fades into softer, blurred areas that almost dissolve into the background. That contrast keeps your eye moving. The way Cole uses line here reminds me a bit of the drawings of someone like Jasper Johns, where the process is as much the subject as the person depicted. It’s like he’s saying, "Here’s Wilson, but here’s also how I see him." That’s what art’s all about, isn’t it? Not just what, but how.