Martin Luther King, Jr.

John Wilson (American, 1922–2015)
Printed by: James Stroud (American, born in 1958)

2002

Medium/Technique Soft and hard ground etching with spit bite aquatint, scraping, and burnishing, this impression drawn upon with charcoal and abraded

Dimensions Framed: 127 × 91.4 cm (50 × 36 in.)
Sheet: 91.4 × 76.2 cm (36 × 30 in.)

Credit Line Lee M. Friedman Fund and Living New England Artists Purchase Fund, created by The Stephen and Sybil Stone Foundation

Accession Number2005.634

NOT ON VIEW

CollectionsContemporary Art, Americas, Prints and Drawings

ClassificationsPrints

After printing this impression, Wilson made a number of alterations to the sheet, adding charcoal around the neck and scratching into the paper to achieve highlights in the chest, forehead and temple—allowing him to visualize the changes he would need to make in the copper plate. The result is not just a step towards the final product, but an extraordinarily beautiful work in its own right.

State State 9A

DescriptionSpit bite aquatint added in this state, and this impression drawn upon with charcoal and abraded

Marks Blindstamped at lower left -- chop of Jim Stroud

InscriptionsLower right in graphite pencil: Wilson 02
Lower right in graphite pencil: 9A

ProvenanceCenter Street Studio (Milton, MA); from whom purchased by MFA, 14 December 2005.