Saint-Jean-du-Doigt 1915

This is Saint-Jean-du-Doigt by Caroline Helena Armington, an etching printed on paper. Look at those lines, how she uses them, it's like she's feeling her way through the scene, each stroke building up the form, not just copying what's there but discovering it. The texture is amazing, you can almost feel the rough stone, the way the light catches on it. See how she uses the lines to create depth, pulling you into the scene? It's not just a picture, it's an invitation. I like the detail of the stone work around the arch. Each line is distinct but together they give the impression of weather worn stone. Armington's work reminds me a little of Piranesi, who had a similar way with architectural subjects. The artist's mark-making is a conversation, not just with the subject, but with the history of art itself. It's always evolving, always surprising.