The Old Covenanter
1910
Medium
drypoint
Dimensions
sheet: 28.8 × 40.7 cm (11 5/16 × 16 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of Addie Burr Clark
Accession Number
1946.9.38
Art Historical Context
Francis Dodd’s 1910 drypoint “The Old Covenanter” presents a quietly powerful portrait of an elderly man whose weathered features and steady gaze evoke the steadfast spirit suggested by the title. Dodd, a British artist active during the etching revival, favored intimate printmaking techniques that allowed him to record character with great sensitivity. The drypoint process, in which the artist scratches directly into the copper plate, produces soft, velvety lines and rich tonal areas prized for their expressive warmth. Measuring roughly 11 by 16 inches, the sheet size invites close viewing,...