Chief Eagle Calf
1927
Medium
etching and drypoint in black
Dimensions
plate: 22.86 × 16.83 cm (9 × 6 5/8 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Reba and Dave Williams Collection, Gift of Reba and Dave Williams
Accession Number
2008.115.5023
Art Historical Context
**Chief Eagle Calf** (1927) by Levon West is a striking etching and drypoint portrait that captures the dignified presence of its namesake Native American leader. Created during the 1920s, a time when American artists romantic the vanishing West, this intimate print measures just 9 × 6 5/8 inches, inviting close contemplation of the chief's resolute gaze and traditional attire. West, a prominent printmaker of his era, specialized in such evocative depictions, blending realism with the nuanced textures unique to intaglio techniques. The medium—etching and drypoint in black ink—highlights West'...