Percé Rock 1937

Editor: This etching by Robert L. Benney, titled "Percé Rock," was created in 1937. The scene feels so still and quiet; there is almost a haunting sense of scale with the rock looming over those tiny buildings. What strikes you most about it? Curator: Ah, yes, Percé Rock. A melancholic tune hummed in steel grey, wouldn't you say? What catches my eye, and perhaps always will, is how Benney uses such delicate lines to depict something so monumental and enduring. Do you see how the scratchy etching gives the sky a certain… weight? Almost as if it’s pressing down on the landscape. Editor: I do, like a thick blanket. Is that contrast between the heaviness and the delicacy intentional, you think? Curator: Intentionality is always the great mystery, isn't it? I find it delightful to ponder! But I'd wager a strong "perhaps." See how he juxtaposes the rough, almost crude texture of the rock with the comparatively smooth expanse of the land and water. He creates a tangible tension, a visual push and pull. Almost like the battle between the unstoppable forces of nature and the fragile presence of humankind. Editor: I see what you mean. It is thought-provoking, this conversation between strength and delicacy. It changes my whole perception. I was ready to just move along to the next piece. Thank you! Curator: The pleasure was all mine, truly. May your own etchings, metaphorical or otherwise, always reveal unexpected vistas!