Honorable Elihu Root

Art Historical Context

**Honorable Elihu Root** a striking 1922 drypoint etching by American artist Walter Tittle, housed in the National Gallery of Art. Measuring 12 × 10 inches on the plate this intimate portrait captures Elihu Root, a towering figure in early 20th-century American politics Root served as Secretary of War under Presidents McKinley and Roosevelt, Secretary of State under, and later won the Nobel Peace Prize in1912 for his work promoting international law and arbitration. just six years before Root's death, the print reflects Tittle's skill in portraying statesmen during a pivotal era of U.S. global influence post-World War I. Drypoint, Tittle's chosen medium, involves scratching directly into a metal plate with a sharp tool, raising a soft burr that yields velvety, expressive lines in black ink. This technique lends the portrait a tactile richness and immediacy, ideal for capturing Root's dignified presence and thoughtful gaze. Tittle, known for his elegant portrait prints of notable figures, gifted this work through his wife, adding a personal touch to its legacy in the museum's collection. A testament to the era's reverence for public service, this print invites visitors to appreciate both artistic finesse and historical gravitas, bridging fine art with American diplomacy. (198 words)

About the Artist

Walter Tittle · 1883–1966

Walter Tittle was an American illustrator, portraitist, and printmaker who built a distinguished career in the early decades of the twentieth century, working across the overlapping worlds of magazine illustration, literary portraiture, and fine art printmaking. Born in Springfield, Ohio, he studied at the Art Students League of New York, an institution that provided rigorous training in drawing a...