Percy Wyndam Lewis: small plate 

Curator: This is a small etching entitled "Percy Wyndham Lewis: small plate." The artist is Augustus John, and though we don’t have a firm date for its creation, it gives us some interesting insight into the artistic circles of the time. Editor: The image has an intense directness, doesn’t it? It looks like a quick sketch but feels intimate. You can almost feel the scratch of the etching needle on the plate, the concentration needed to capture that gaze. Curator: Augustus John and Percy Wyndham Lewis, both figures central to the British art scene, portrayals like this serve a very specific cultural function, etching itself allows for circulation on a larger scale for a burgeoning art market in England at the time. It brings visibility to artists. Editor: True, the reproductive capability is significant but consider also the economics of production; this isn't some grand oil painting requiring extensive materials and studio space. Etching is relatively accessible and that allows John to circulate and market these images in different, innovative ways that reflect this access. Curator: You bring up a key point regarding artistic patronage at that time, but there's also the public reception to consider. The Bloomsbury Group and figures associated with it were hugely influential shaping ideas around art and modernity. How would a portrait like this play into those trends, did the print become part of a wider, or niche acceptance for John? Editor: Look closer though; you see how he varies the pressure, creating different line weights? It's economical but deliberate. It conveys not just the likeness but also the textures of skin and hair. We can discuss the materials required of the patron that allowed for the boom in England and if it helped with recognition to a niche audience. It may explain his motivations and intentions for his style of rendering a likeness of Percy. Curator: Ultimately it tells a broader story, doesn’t it? The market that developed with celebrity artist like John to shape the image of cultural figures. Editor: Yes, through that understanding and an astute understanding of production, markets and fame come hand in hand. That becomes important to the legacy we reflect on today.