Spittal 1890

David Young Cameron created "Spittal" as an etching. It depicts a harborside scene with boats and buildings rendered in precise detail. Cameron's focus on architectural and landscape elements, combined with the printmaking medium, evokes a sense of the past. The choice to depict the working waterfront prompts us to consider labor and class. The artist was influenced by the late 19th century art movements, which emphasized aestheticism and the revival of etching as a fine art technique. These movements allowed for the depiction of landscapes as subjective expressions. The artist invites us to contemplate our relationship to place and history. He captures a sense of place and time while highlighting the often-overlooked beauty of industrial or working environments.