The Grand Smoker

Ernest Waterlow, better known for his elegant landscapes in oil and watercolor, demonstrates his technical versatility in this intimate etching and drypoint work. Though Waterlow gained recognition as a Royal Academician and president of the Royal Watercolour Society, he also explored printmaking techniques that allowed for fine detail and rich tonal variation. The drypoint technique—where lines are scratched directly into the copper plate—produces a characteristic soft, velvety line quality with a slight burr that holds extra ink, creating depth and atmosphere in the printed image.

This small-scale portrait study showcases Waterlow's ability to capture character and mood through the careful manipulation of light and shadow. The work's intimate dimensions—barely three inches across—invite close viewing, drawing the observer into a private moment with the subject. The multiple layers of paper support (the work is laid down three times) suggest this was a print valued enough to warrant careful preservation mounting. During Waterlow's era, smoking was a common social activity and a frequent subject for artists exploring informal portraiture and character studies. The "Grand Smoker" suggests a figure of some distinction or personality, captured in a moment of quiet contemplation with pipe or cigar.