Bridges 1933

Ernest Boyer made this print, Bridges, by etching into a plate, wiping it back, and running it through a press. I imagine him, inking the plate, carefully wiping it so that only the etched lines hold ink, the press rolling... It’s a scene of American industry; a train crossing a bridge, smoke billowing, set against a landscape with mountains in the background. I wonder if he felt like he was capturing some feeling or moment of change, or progress, or industry. He's simplifying the forms, focusing on bold shapes and tonal contrasts, so there is this kind of iconic feel, like it could be anywhere, everywhere. It puts me in mind of other artists who were trying to capture similar feelings like Charles Sheeler and the precisionists, but it's got its own thing going on with its graphic quality. Ultimately, all the artists are inspired by each other, they are in a kind of constant discussion across time, pushing on the boundaries of seeing.