Salt Marshes 1930

Kerr Eby made this print of Salt Marshes using etching, and it’s all about the touch. Look closely, and you'll see how the magic lies in the details. The hatching marks build up to create the cloudy sky, giving real depth to the atmosphere. Then down below there are little pauses and hesitations to delineate the water, and the plants on the shore. The physical labor of the printmaking process is so evident, that the image becomes a space of time. It’s also about the way the piece evokes the work of artists like Whistler, who showed us how the everyday world can be a source of endless fascination.