Frauen Kirche, Nuremburg 1910

This is John Marin's etching of the Frauen Kirche in Nuremburg. It's all about the lines, isn't it? Like a mad scientist's doodle or a dream of architecture. Look closely, and you'll see how the lines scratch and swarm. They're not just describing the building; they're building it, piece by piece, from the ground up. The ink isn’t precious; it’s like he attacked the plate with a needle. This gives the whole thing a wobbly, precarious feel. The tower, especially, is about to take off like a rocket. Marin must have loved Whistler. But where Whistler is all quiet and tonal, Marin’s got this jittery energy. It's like he’s saying, “Buildings aren't just solid things; they're ideas, feelings, temporary structures.” Art, like life, is never really finished. It’s always in process.