Straat met huizen en wandelaars in Chartres 1928

This is Straat met huizen en wandelaars in Chartres, made by Gustave Leheutre, using etching. Look at how he's made the marks on the building to the right. The cross hatching gives the building a tangible presence, but also implies the work it takes to maintain a structure like that. Maybe it’s a metaphor for how we all build our lives, bit by bit. It’s interesting to me how he uses the etching process to give the buildings on the left a soft and blurry form. The walls seem to fade into nothing. In contrast the building on the right juts forward and dominates the space, creating a sense of depth. This reminds me of Piranesi's etchings. These guys invite us to wander through their built spaces, engaging in an ongoing exchange of ideas across time.