Nevers in Paris (Nevers à Paris) 1904

Jacques Villon’s print, Nevers in Paris, presents figures rendered in soft ground etching and aquatint. Look at the way Villon uses the etching technique to build up an image layer by layer, just like a painter builds up a painting. The surface has a delicate texture, a bit like watercolor, with thin, translucent washes of color. Notice how the dark browns of the man’s coat contrast with the muted yellows of the woman’s dress, creating depth and drawing our eye to the figures. There’s a deliberate ambiguity here. For instance, see the way the lines around the man’s face are hatched, almost scribbled? It’s like Villon is inviting us to complete the image in our own minds. Villon's work reminds me a little of Toulouse-Lautrec, with his interest in modern life and his innovative printmaking techniques, but Villon brings a different sensibility. Art is always a conversation, isn't it? A continuous exchange of ideas across time.