The Reader (La Lecture) 1908

Timothy Cole's engraving, "The Reader," captures a moment of quiet absorption, rendered with such precision. I wonder what Cole was thinking as he worked on this? Maybe, as he incised those delicate lines, he was thinking about the play of light on the page, or the concentration on the reader's face? It’s a reproduction of another painting, so he’s in conversation with that artist too. There’s such a strong relation between reading and looking… I’m drawn to the texture he creates with those fine lines, almost like a whisper on the paper. Look how they build up the shadows, giving depth to her dress and the books piled on the table. That ruffled collar around her neck, each fold and curve, it's so tactile, you almost want to reach out and touch it. Engravers like Cole are often unsung heroes. They translate the visions of painters into another medium. I think that's pretty special. Artists are always building on each other's work, interpreting and reinterpreting, adding their own voice to the mix, and Cole certainly did just that.