C.J. Knowles, 2nd plate 

This is a portrait of C.J. Knowles, etched by Alphonse Legros. The gaze is the most potent symbol here. It is directed, intense. Throughout the history of portraiture, the subject's eyes have served as a window into their soul. Consider the Fayum mummy portraits of Roman Egypt, where the eyes, often large and expressive, were believed to ensure the deceased could still see and be seen in the afterlife. This act is a symbolic bridge between worlds. The direct stare, as we see here in Legros's etching, evolves through time, yet retains this psychological weight. The act of looking is never neutral; it carries with it the weight of our memories, desires, and fears, engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. Like an ancient ritual, the eyes connect us. So we see how the gaze has been resurrected, evolving and taking on new meanings, yet still echoing with the primordial power of human connection.