Driftway, Evening 1933

Kerr Eby made this print, “Driftway, Evening,” using a process called etching. That means the image was incised into a metal plate with acid, and then printed onto paper. Look closely, and you can see the delicate lines that define the trees and the snow-covered ground. The final appearance of this artwork emerges from the artist's labor-intensive work on the plate. By controlling the depth and density of the etched lines, Eby created a tonal range from light to dark, suggesting the dim light of dusk. Eby was a master of this process, and his prints often depict scenes of rural life or military subjects. During his career, there was a thriving market for original prints, which allowed artists to reach a wider audience than with unique works of art. But that doesn’t mean this image is simply commercial. It beautifully exploits the potential of the etching medium to evoke mood and atmosphere. The act of close looking at an object like this blurs the boundary between craft and fine art, revealing the value of skill and process in visual expression.