A Man Etching - Self-Portrait

Art Historical Context

Created in 1917 by Welsh artist Augustus John, *A Man Etching – Self-Portrait* an intimate glimpse into the creative process. John, celebrated for his bold portraits and expressive draftsmanship, captures himself in the act of printmaking during a pivotal moment in his career. The work belongs to the Rosenwald Collection at the National Gallery of Art, where it exemplifies early twentieth-century British printmaking. Etching, the medium chosen here, involves incising lines into a metal plate with acid, allowing artists to achieve remarkable detail and tonal depth through multiple impressions. Measuring roughly 28.6 by 22.1 centimeters, this modest sheet rewards close looking, revealing John’s confident handling of line and his interest in self-representation. Produced amid the First World War, the print quietly underscores the enduring role of art-making even in times of global upheaval. As both a self-portrait and a demonstration of technique, the work invites viewers to consider the relationship between artist and medium. John’s decision to depict the etching process itself highlights printmaking’s accessibility and its capacity for personal expression, qualities that continue to resonate with audiences today.

About the Artist

Augustus John · 1878–1961

Augustus Edwin John OM RA (1878–1961) was a Welsh painter, draughtsman, and etcher whose prodigious early gifts made him the most celebrated portraitist in Britain during the first decades of the twentieth century. Born on 4 January 1878 in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, he lost his mother Augusta Smith in childhood, a loss that left a permanent mark on his restless temperament. He and his elder sister Gwe...