Oudemanhuispoort in Amsterdam 1926

This print, "Oudemanhuispoort in Amsterdam" by Frederik van der Harst, is a study in lines, etched into a plate, wiped, and then pressed onto paper. I can imagine the artist working with fine tools to create those intricate lines, building up the image bit by bit. It's so architectural. I'm wondering if Van der Harst thought about being an architect? I can imagine the artist walking through Amsterdam, finding this spot and being struck by the geometry of the buildings. You have the archway, the brickwork, and then the tangle of trees above. It's like two worlds colliding, a place that invites the eye to travel through it, into the depth. There is a conversation between precision and chaos, with the rigid architecture juxtaposed against the organic sprawl of nature. It's about capturing the essence of a place, but also about the act of seeing. Artists are always looking at each other's work, whether they know it or not. This print reminds me of Piranesi’s etchings of Rome, with its dark shadows and sense of grandeur, but also brings to mind the precision of Durer.