The Boot Black c. 1930

Helen Wessels made this print, The Boot Black, with etching, using thin, precise lines to construct the scene. It’s so satisfying when an artist embraces the mark-making process so honestly! Look at the area around the seated man. The etching lines are laid down to describe the texture of wood. But they also create these dark, almost abstract patterns. I love how Wessels doesn't try to hide the fact that she is using lines to create form; she’s almost playing with it! It’s a bit like Picasso. His use of line and form, though radical, is rooted in a real understanding of visual representation. It feels like she’s playing with you, allowing you to see how the image is constructed. This reminds me of Käthe Kollwitz, another master printmaker, who used etching to convey powerful social messages. Art is a visual conversation, constantly building on what came before.