Derby Wharf #1 1915

This is Philip Little’s "Derby Wharf #1", made in 1915. It's a print that captures a scene with an incredible economy of marks. Look at the way Little describes the clouds with just a few, almost casual lines. It's like he's saying, "Here's the essence of a cloud," and leaving it at that. The texture of the paper becomes part of the sky. I think of artists like James McNeill Whistler, who were masters of suggestion and understatement. What really grabs me is how he handles the buildings. They're not overly detailed, but you get a sense of their weathered surfaces, their solidity. The lines are confident, direct. And those tiny figures on the wharf! They’re just these little dabs of ink, but they bring the whole scene to life. It feels so immediate, like a quick sketch done on the spot, but there's also a timeless quality to it. Little understands that sometimes, less really is more.