North Shore 1952

Morris Blackburn made this print, called North Shore, using a technique that involves scratching into a metal plate, a bit like doodling in metal. You can see how the dark ink catches in all those tiny lines, like rain gathering in cracks. I love the way Blackburn's mark-making creates a world of light and shadow. The textures feel almost tactile, like you could reach out and touch the rough wood and the grainy sky. Notice how the vertical lines of the post contrast with the jumble of planks on the ground. It’s like a visual game of order versus chaos. This reminds me of Piranesi, who also used etching to create imaginary, almost stage-like spaces. Both artists understood that a print isn't just a picture; it's a record of a physical process, a collaboration between the artist, the material, and the tools. And in that collaboration, new ways of seeing the world emerge.