Artwork
Self-Portrait, 3rd plate
Self-Portrait, 3rd plate is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Alphonse Legros. It dates from 1874 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Self-Portrait, 3rd plate, created by Alphonse Legros in 1874, is an etching and drypoint print. The work showcases Legros' skill in graphic art, reflecting his influence in revitalizing etching in Britain.
Subject & Meaning
The subject is a self-portrait of the artist, depicted with a thick beard, mustache, and disheveled wavy hair, set against a minimally suggested background. The focus is on capturing the likeness with expressive, confident lines.
Technique & Style
Executed in etching and drypoint, the print features scratchy, dark lines and selective shading. This technique allowed for rapid, expressive rendering of facial features, characteristic of quick portrait sketches.
History & Provenance
Created in 1874 by Alphonse Legros, a French-born British artist and educator, who played a pivotal role in Britain's etching revival through his teaching.
Context
Part of Legros' broader graphic oeuvre, this self-portrait exemplifies the expressive potential of etching and drypoint for capturing likenesses, reflecting mid-19th-century interests in revitalizing traditional printmaking techniques.
Artist & collection
Artist
Alphonse Legros (French pronunciation: ; 8 May 1837 – 8 December 1911) was a French, later British, painter, etcher, sculptor, and medallist.
