W.H. Longfellow, 1st plate 

This etching by Alphonse Legros depicts the American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The artist, a French-born printmaker, is known for his realist style. The print captures Longfellow's likeness with remarkable detail, emphasizing his long white beard and the lines of his face, suggesting a life of intellectual labor. Legros's mastery of etching is evident in the intricate lines that create both texture and form. This print is an example of Legros's ability to capture the essence of his subject through his refined and expressive technique.