Old Strasburg 1910

John Marin made this etching, Old Strasburg, sometime around 1910. Look closely, and you can see how he’s fearlessly scratched lines into the plate. It’s this direct, hands-on process that feels so alive. The magic of etching lies in its textures and the way light plays across the surface. See how the lines swarm around the buildings, almost vibrating? It's like the city itself is alive and in motion. The shadows are deep and mysterious, giving the scene a weight and depth beyond the simple lines. My eye keeps getting drawn to the way he depicts the water in the foreground, the way the marks are almost horizontal, a sort of visual foundation to the whole. Marin reminds me a bit of Lyonel Feininger, another artist who loved to capture the energy of urban life. But where Feininger could be sharp and precise, Marin is all about feeling. For him, it's not about perfection. It's about capturing the essence of a place, the way it hums with life, and the way that stays with you long after you’ve left.