Isles of the Morning 1925

Percival Gaskell created this etching called Isles of the Morning; it's a landscape that shimmers somewhere between waking and dreaming. Imagine the artist carefully layering lines to conjure the quiet vastness of the seascape. I wonder, what was he thinking as he worked? It's so muted; I imagine he was thinking about a tonal harmony. I bet he wanted to get the feeling of a place right. This isn't one of those show-offy paintings, trying to grab your attention. Instead, it’s like he has taken a big breath, and decided to be quiet, to really listen to what the scene was telling him. Look how the lightest greys of the sky almost merge into the water. It's like one big, soft hug for the eyes. Painters, we are all magpies, borrowing shiny bits from each other across time. Maybe Gaskell was inspired by Whistler's atmospheric nocturnes, who knows? What I do know is that this print is about feeling more than seeing. It's an invitation to stop, breathe, and just be.