Walt Whitman by William J. Linton (engraver), ca. 1871
Included here because of its familiarity as a portrait of Whitman. Based on an original photograph by George C. Potter, Whitman used it in the 1876 Leaves and wrote a poem, "Out from Behind This Mask," inspired by the engraving: "This common curtain of the face contain'd in me for me. . . . / These burin'd eyes, flashing to you to pass to future time. . . ." When choosing to print this image in the 1889 Leaves, Whitman told Horace Traubel, "I always have liked it" (With Walt Whitman in Camden, Friday, September 21st, 1888).
For more information on George C. Potter, see "Notes on Whitman's Photographers."
Engraver (printmaker): Linton, W. J., 1812–1898
Date: ca. 1871
Technique: engraving (printing process)
Subject: Whitman, Walt, 1819-1892
Instance(s):
Metadata for Digital Item
Creator of master digital image: Whitman Archive Staff
Rights: Public Domain. This image may be reproduced without permission.
Work Type: digital image
Date: ca. 1995–ca. 2000