Edwin Edwards 

Curator: This Alphonse Legros print, an etching titled "Edwin Edwards," immediately strikes me as contemplative, almost melancholy. It’s as though we’ve caught him in a moment of private reflection. Editor: Indeed. Note how Legros employs a masterful use of line to define form and texture. The hatching and cross-hatching are particularly effective in rendering the sitter's facial features and the drapery of his clothing, giving a palpable sense of depth despite the relative simplicity. The subject is framed in the centre; however, in this portrait there appears to be some ghosting which I believe to be a purposeful printing artefact, which is interesting given it being in line form. Curator: Absolutely. It feels almost like we're intruding on his thoughts, doesn't it? It gives the piece a remarkable sense of immediacy and intimacy, as though Legros captured not just Edwards’ likeness, but also a glimpse of his inner self. Editor: From a formalist point of view, I appreciate the economy of means. The artist uses a minimal tonal range and relies primarily on line to articulate the subject. This restraint, rather than detracting from the image, actually heightens its expressive impact. There's something inherently modern in this simplification. Curator: It's that balance, isn’t it? Restraint mixed with emotion. To achieve so much with seemingly so little... it almost feels effortless, like a fleeting sketch. Editor: Though an etching print is naturally produced as multiples and there's some evidence the artist wasn't afraid to play with the method of printing and creation here, with intentional marks creating interest for future audience viewings, which, of course, helps bring the emotional weight and impact in viewing. Curator: That very printing technique and form actually suits it down to the ground. A physical thing to behold. Almost ghostly in that way. Editor: A fitting and interesting insight to end on. The artwork does leave us to see both sides, one physical, the other... almost, out of this realm. Thank you for your personal and imaginative insight.