The Etcher, by William Strang R.A. (1859-1921). 1897. Drypoint. Source: Newbolt, Plate XXXIII. [Click on the image to enlarge it.]
"In his portrait of himself as an etcher," writes Frank Newbolt, Strang "has struggled successfully with the difficulties of dry-point, and has not troubled to reverse his subject. The proof, therefore, shows him etching with his left hand. The artist's robust method makes nothing of such trifles" (11). Strang produced other self-portraits, in a variety of mediums and in a variety of poses, but this one is particularly striking in the way it captures the artist's intense concentration on his subject. "I like the firm drawing, the touch of the painter's breadth, and the sense of Shape," writes Michael Blaker of Strang's etchings generally (31).
Image capture and text by Jacqueline Banerjee. You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the source and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print one.
References
Blaker, Michael. "Selections from the Editorial Collection, Part I." The Journal of the Royal Society of Printer-Etchers and Engravers. No. 8 (1986): 31-38.
Newbolt, Frank. Etchings of William Strang, A.R.A.. London: G. Newnes / New York: Scribner's, [1907]. Internet Archive. Web. 10 March 2015.
Created 10 March 2015