Summer in the Park 1937

Will Barnet made this etching, Summer in the Park, and there’s no given date but it’s got a timeless quality. The muted tones and soft lines suggest a moment captured in a dream. It’s about mark making, using lines to create these subtle figures, that are loose yet intentional. The texture is achieved through the etching process, creating a grainy surface that adds depth to the otherwise sparse composition. The children are rendered with a gentle touch, the lines contouring their forms, hinting at the soft curves of their bodies. A particularly striking aspect is the woman’s face, drawn in profile with a few simple lines, capturing her serene gaze. Barnet’s work, like that of Milton Avery, often simplifies forms to their essence, inviting us to find beauty in simplicity and to engage with the emotional nuances of everyday scenes. It's a conversation between the artist, the subject, and the viewer, embracing ambiguity and the ever-changing nature of interpretation.