The Old Covenanter 1910

Francis Dodd made this etching, titled "The Old Covenanter", sometime in the first half of the 20th century. Dodd's mark-making feels so immediate, like a spontaneous response to his subject. It reminds me that artmaking is a process, a journey of discovery rather than a quest for a pre-defined result. Look closely, and you'll see how the etching's texture creates this sense of depth, especially in the shadows of the chair and the folds of the man's suit. The lines vary in thickness and density, building up the form gradually. The details in the face, the way the light catches the brow and cheek, show the artist's close observation and sensitivity. See how Dodd has used hatching and cross-hatching to create a sense of volume and weight. It's like he's building the figure up from the ground, one line at a time. It makes me think of Käthe Kollwitz, another artist who explored the power of line and shadow. Like Kollwitz, Dodd embraces the ambiguity and multiple interpretations that art offers, inviting us to engage in an ongoing conversation across time and ideas.