Antonin Proust 1885

This is a portrait of Antonin Proust by Auguste Rodin, made using a drypoint technique. Unlike etching, where acid does the work of biting the plate, drypoint involves directly scratching lines into a copper plate with a sharp needle. Look closely, and you'll see the delicate furrows and the velvety texture of the lines. This comes from the burr - the tiny ridge of copper that is thrown up on either side of the scratched line, which catches the ink. The printmaker then wipes the surface clean, leaving ink only in the scratched lines and the burr. The resulting prints have a unique, almost three-dimensional quality. But the pressure of the printing process quickly wears down the delicate burr. This means that only a small number of impressions can be made, making drypoints highly prized for their intimate, handcrafted feel. In appreciating this work, we must consider the skilled labor and the unique properties of the materials that have given the portrait its distinctive character.