Untitled (A Train Through the Pass) 1936

William J. Scott made this etching, titled "Untitled (A Train Through the Pass)", sometime between the late 19th and early 20th century. Imagine Scott carefully applying acid to the metal plate, watching as the lines of the landscape began to emerge. Those rhythmic marks remind me of the work of artists like Giovanni Battista Piranesi and his series of etchings of Rome. What was Scott thinking as he scratched these lines? This technique is so slow and meditative. You can see the horse and rider moving through the landscape, almost like a train cutting through the mountains. Scott, like many artists, was in conversation with those who came before him. His work shows how an artist can engage with art history, drawing inspiration from the past while forging their own unique vision. Each line, each shadow, a testament to the artist's hand and their enduring presence.