Portret van Henry Gerbault 1904

Edgar Chahine made this print of Henry Gerbault in an unknown year with etching. It's all about lines here, folks, the kind that create shapes, depth, and a mood that’s both studious and intimate. The texture is built by the scratching of the plate, and the way the ink sits on the paper, it’s not trying to hide anything, laying bare the process. The darkest darks near the window throw the foreground into sharp relief. Looking at Gerbault’s face, you can almost feel the weight of thought, the concentration etched into his brow. See how the light catches the edge of his book, turning the pages into planes of possibility? Chahine reminds me of Whistler, both were masters of suggestion. Like a good conversation, this print leaves you with more questions than answers, and that’s exactly the point.