Chool Kata 1994

Bruce Peck’s etching ‘Chool Kata’ from 1974, is a work of dense, cross-hatched lines that create a bustling scene. I can imagine Peck, squinting in the sun, meticulously scratching the plate, trying to capture the energy of this place. The lines feel a bit like shorthand, quickly noting all the activity. There's a real sense of light and shadow, built up layer by layer. I wonder if the artist felt overwhelmed by the task of representing the scene? The scratchy, almost frantic lines remind me of other printmakers like Whistler, but Peck is doing something different here. He’s not just depicting a scene, he's capturing a moment, a feeling of being immersed in the chaos of everyday life. You know? It is like being somewhere and making a mental note to capture what is there. And isn't that what we all do, as artists? We see something, and we try to make sense of it, to translate it into our own language.