Boomgaard 1892 - 1928

Johannes Löhr made this etching called "Boomgaard" -- that's "Orchard" in Dutch -- with needle and acid on a copper plate. It's a beautiful balance of line and tone. Looking at the intricate network of branches against the sky, you can really see Löhr's mastery of the etching technique. There is a tactile quality to the lines, they describe not just what the eye sees, but what the hand feels. There are areas of intense detail and areas that are more open, giving our eye a space to wonder. This is the beauty of process, of letting the medium lead the way. The way Löhr uses the etching to create different textures is also very powerful. The rough, almost scribbled lines in the foreground contrast with the more delicate lines of the trees and the sky, and this makes me think of the German Expressionists, like Emil Nolde, who were interested in raw emotion and the power of the natural world. Ultimately this etching invites us to slow down, breathe deeply, and connect with the quiet beauty of the orchard.