Portrait of Edward D. Adams from a Trial Plate

Art Historical Context

This striking etching and drypoint print, created in 1892, captures Edward D. Adams in a dignified portrait by the French-born artist Alphonse Legros. Legros, renowned for his mastery of printmaking and his influence on the etching revival in Britain and America, often portrayed prominent figures of his time with a direct, introspective gaze. The work’s “second state” designation reveals the artist’s careful refinement of the plate, showcasing subtle adjustments in line and tone that enhance the subject’s presence. Executed on a modest plate measuring just over seven by five inches, the print demonstrates the intimate scale and precision possible with etching and drypoint techniques. These methods allow for delicate textures and rich contrasts, lending the portrait both immediacy and depth. Adams himself later gifted the impression to the Metropolitan Museum in 1921, ensuring its preservation as both a personal memento and an example of late-nineteenth-century printmaking. Today the work offers visitors a window into the collaborative relationship between sitter and artist, as well as the technical artistry of the etching process. Its presence in the museum’s collection of drawings and prints underscores Legros’s lasting impact on the medium.

About the Artist

Edward Dean Adams|Alphonse Legros ( |French and British) · 1846 |1837 –1931 |1911

|French, Dijon 1837–1911 Watford, Hertfordshire