Henry Rushbury
1914
Medium
drypoint
Dimensions
sheet: 31.3 × 35.2 cm (12 5/16 × 13 7/8 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1943.3.3429
Art Historical Context
Francis Dodd’s 1914 drypoint presents a sensitive portrait of fellow artist Henry Rushbury. Created on the eve of the First World War, the print reflects the close-knit world of British etchers and printmakers who were then enjoying a lively revival of original printmaking. Dodd, recognized for both his portraits and urban scenes, used the directness of drypoint to convey Rushbury’s thoughtful gaze and the textures of his clothing with quiet economy. Drypoint is an intaglio process in which the artist scratches a copper or zinc plate with a sharp needle, raising a delicate burr of metal that ...