Memory 1906

John Sloan’s etching, "Memory," shows us a scene created through a network of intricate lines, almost like a collective thought made visible. The approach to mark making here reminds me that art, at its heart, is a process of revealing. The texture in this piece is amazing, achieved with such fine detail in the etching. The way Sloan uses cross-hatching to build up shadows and form gives the scene a palpable depth. Check out the woman's dress. See how the lines define the fabric's folds and drapes? It’s like he’s not just depicting a dress, but capturing the very essence of its materiality. And then there's the smoke from the cigar, just a few wispy lines that convey so much. This piece feels like a direct ancestor to the work of artists like David Hockney, who also reveled in the intimacy of domestic scenes and the beauty of everyday life. Ultimately, "Memory" suggests that art thrives in the realm of ambiguity, where multiple interpretations coexist.