Sir Maurice Hankey, Secretary to the British Cabinet 1922

This is Walter Tittle’s etching of Sir Maurice Hankey. Look at those etched lines, so deliberate, so sure! It's like Tittle is trying to capture not just Hankey's face, but his essence, that serious look in his eye that suggests he’s mulling over some important matter of state. I imagine Tittle hunched over that plate, scratching away with his tools, trying to get every line just right. And you have to get it right, because you can't just wipe it away like paint. Each stroke is a decision, a commitment. The light and shadow on Hankey's face are so carefully rendered, it gives him depth. It’s interesting how a limited palette, just the stark contrast of black and white, can say so much. This piece reminds me of other portrait etchings from that time – a time when artists were trying to capture the likeness of important people, but also trying to say something about their character. It is as if the artist and sitter are in conversation.