Rameses II 1909

David Young Cameron made this etching of Rameses II, and it’s so interesting to see him work in monochrome. I wonder what it was like to create this etching and what he was thinking when he made it? The surface has a delicate range of grays, from the bright paper to the darker tones. The fine lines that define Rameses's features and headdress create a sense of depth and volume, contrasting with the smoothness of the paper. It’s as though Cameron is pulling the figure out of a shadowy past, giving it form and presence through his lines. I imagine him carefully considering the weight and direction of each stroke, almost like a sculptor carving into stone. The hatching creates volume and a sense of ancient grandeur, inviting us to contemplate the enduring legacy of Rameses II. It’s all so incredibly cool.