Approach to the Bridge, No. 3 1931

This is John Marin’s ‘Approach to the Bridge, No. 3’ made in 1931. It's an etching, so imagine the artist bent over a metal plate, scratching and biting lines into its surface. This isn’t just a picture of a bridge; it’s a collection of marks, each with its own energy. Looking at it, I see all these dark lines trying to capture the bigness of the Brooklyn Bridge, but also its vibrating, buzzing energy. Those scribbles and scratches are all about the city—it's as though he’s trying to capture the chaotic feel of New York. The bridge isn't static; it’s alive. I bet Marin was thinking about the Futurists when he made this. They were all about speed and motion, trying to capture it in painting, and you can almost feel the rumble of the traffic and the hustle of people crossing the bridge. Painters build on each other, inspiring and answering back across time. It's like one big, ongoing conversation, an embrace of uncertainty, and I am here for it!