The Barker 1931

Reginald Marsh made this etching, The Barker, using black ink on white paper. The marks are so dense, it almost looks like a charcoal drawing! There's a real frenzy of line-making here, a network of hatching and cross-hatching that creates a vibrating surface. See how Marsh uses the density of lines to build up areas of shadow, giving weight and form to the figures. It's like he's trying to capture the energy of the crowd, the noise and excitement of the scene. My eye keeps getting drawn back to the face of the woman looking out from the crowd towards us. There's something so direct and engaging about her gaze. What do you think she is thinking? Marsh's work reminds me a bit of the German Expressionist printmakers, like Otto Dix or Kathe Kollwitz. There's a similar sense of social commentary, a raw and unflinching look at the human condition. But Marsh also has a unique voice, a distinct way of capturing the energy and chaos of modern life.