Head of Ali 1999

Lucian Freud made this etching, Head of Ali, using a drypoint technique. The process is clear, the network of lines is not concealed, and we can see how the image came to be. The network of etched lines create a strong contrast between light and shadow, giving the face a sculptural, almost carved quality. The physicality of the medium is apparent here; the lines are not just marks but gouges, creating texture and depth. Look particularly at the corner of the eye on the left. The artist creates a deep, shadowed hollow with tightly packed marks. This is a great example of how a collection of smaller marks can come together to define the character of the whole. Freud's attention to detail and his willingness to leave the marks of his process visible aligns him with artists like Rembrandt, who also embraced the imperfections and irregularities of the etching process. Neither artist was afraid to show the hand at work.