Alphonse Legros's etching and drypoint portrait of Tolstoi captures the Russian writer in his later years with remarkable psychological depth and technical mastery. The combination of etching and drypoint allows Legros to create subtle tonal variations and expressive line work that convey both the subject's intellectual intensity and physical presence. This print exemplifies Legros's skill in the printmaking medium and his ability to render penetrating character studies through the precision of intaglio techniques.