Head of a Man (Tete d'homme) 

Alphonse Legros made this print, Head of a Man, using etching. It's a process that relies on acid to bite lines into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed onto paper. Look closely, and you’ll see a web of fine lines creating the image. The artist would have used a sharp needle-like tool to draw through a waxy coating on the plate, exposing the metal underneath. The plate is then immersed in acid, which etches the design into the metal where the wax has been removed. Once printed, these etched lines hold the ink, transferring the image to paper under pressure. The beauty of etching lies in its directness and intimacy. Legros captured the texture of the man's hair and beard with remarkable detail. You can almost feel the weight of the man’s gaze. Printmaking processes like this can be relatively democratic. The process allows for the production of multiple copies, therefore it is more accessible than a unique painting or sculpture. So think about the many impressions of this plate. Appreciating the material process helps us to understand the wider social and cultural significance of a work like this, moving beyond traditional distinctions between art and craft.