Jeanne d'Arc 1909

Timothy Cole made this intaglio print, Jeanne d’Arc, sometime in his life, and it’s a marvel of precision. The whole image is built up from countless tiny marks, a kind of controlled chaos that gives the scene its depth and texture. Look closely, and you’ll see how Cole uses the density of these marks to create a sense of light and shadow. The way the light catches on Jeanne’s armor, for instance, is incredible, that's all tiny lines and dots. You can see the way he builds up the darker areas, like the background, with even more marks, creating this sense of depth and mystery. This technique reminds me a lot of Seurat, who was doing similar things with paint at the time. Both artists were interested in the idea of building up an image from its smallest components, and both were pushing the boundaries of their respective mediums. It's a testament to the power of art as a conversation across time, a dialogue of ideas and techniques that stretches back centuries.