Lord Beatty, Admiral of the Fleet 1922

Walter Tittle made this drypoint etching of Lord Beatty, Admiral of the Fleet, at some point during his career. It's got this wonderful, scratchy quality that I just love. See how Tittle uses these tightly hatched marks to build up shadow and form? Especially around Beatty’s eyes and cheekbones, there is a real sense of depth. You can almost feel the pressure of the artist's hand as he dug into the plate. It's like he’s not just drawing a face, but really trying to capture something of the man's character, his gravitas, maybe? Look at the way those lines cluster and diverge, creating a play of light and dark that feels so alive. It reminds me of some of Lucian Freud's etchings, with that same raw, honest intensity. It’s a reminder that art is never really finished, it is just abandoned in an ongoing conversation across time.