Night Out 1940

Douglas Warner Gorsline made this print, Night Out, using etching. I love the atmospheric quality, it's like a memory. Check out the way Gorsline used tiny, tiny lines to build up the image, especially in the fur collar. It's almost like he's knitting with ink. The texture feels so real, you can almost feel the softness. It really demonstrates the artistry of printmaking as a tactile process. The way he contrasts that with the dark, shadowy figure behind her makes the woman stand out even more. The whole scene is so evocative, it reminds me of Edward Hopper, especially the way he captures a sense of loneliness and introspection. But Gorsline has his own unique voice. It's a little bit haunting, a little bit beautiful. Art is a conversation, and Gorsline is adding his own unique voice to the mix.