Lord Lee of Fareham 1921

Walter Tittle made this plate of Lord Lee of Fareham sometime during his lifetime, using what looks like delicate hatching and cross-hatching to create a portrait of this man. I wonder what it was like for Tittle to look so closely at Lord Lee, studying his face and uniform, trying to capture his likeness, his essence, in ink. It must have been an intimate process, a kind of dance between artist and sitter. Look at how the lines form his face and his very fancy clothing! The quick, confident strokes that define his jawline, the subtle shading that gives depth to his eyes – each mark feels intentional, considered. The crisp lines of the etching highlight the contours of his face, and the almost uniform dark ink suggests something serious about his personality. It makes you think about how artists are always looking, always learning from each other. And how a simple act like making a portrait can open up a whole world of feeling and understanding.