Grand Bazaar, Constantinople 1927

Louis Conrad Rosenberg made this etching, Grand Bazaar, Constantinople, sometime in the 20th century. Look at the way Rosenberg uses line to create this bustling bazaar; it reminds me of automatic drawing. The process becomes about channeling the energy of the space. The whole image shimmers, created with such careful strokes. The texture is almost palpable; you can practically feel the weight of those stone arches overhead. There's an area in the lower left corner of the print; see how the lines become denser, darker, suggesting a rolled rug or textile? It anchors the composition, drawing the eye into the lively scene beyond. You know, his architectural prints make me think of Piranesi's etchings of Rome – that same obsession with detail and atmosphere. Ultimately, this is a meditation on light and shadow, depth and surface, a frozen moment that still feels so alive.