Professor Ferdinand Brunot 

Elias Grossman’s print, *Professor Ferdinand Brunot*, is a study in the power of line. The portrait is a delicate latticework of hatching and cross-hatching that coalesce to conjure the professor’s likeness. Notice how the density of the lines increases in the areas of shadow, defining the contours of his face and beard, while the sparser lines suggest the subtle gradations of light. The visual effect is almost tactile. Grossman’s technique transcends mere representation; it’s a semiotic system where each stroke functions as a signifier of form and texture. The careful arrangement of these lines creates a sense of depth and volume, turning a flat surface into a dynamic field of visual information. The overall composition invites us to contemplate how such simple means can evoke such complex and nuanced representations of human character.