The Roundhouse 1934

Roland Mousseau made this print, called The Roundhouse, at some point in his life. It’s all about the mark-making, isn’t it? The way the lines create form but also atmosphere, like a foggy memory of an industrial landscape. I’m drawn to the contrast between the dense, cross-hatched shadows and the lighter, almost shimmering areas. The texture feels almost velvety, which is pretty incredible for a print. It's like Mousseau is trying to capture the weight and grit of the industrial world, but with a tenderness. Look at the way he renders the smoke billowing from the chimneys – it's soft and almost ethereal, which contrasts with the solid geometry of the buildings. For me, it recalls the prints of Joseph Pennell, but with a more personal touch. It reminds us that art is always in conversation, building on what came before while pushing into new territory.