Medical Center, NY 1930

Herbert Ferber made this intaglio print of the Medical Center in New York in 1930. It’s all about the layering of lines, isn’t it? Look how he builds up the image bit by bit, almost like constructing the building itself. You can feel the artist working through the process, figuring it out as he goes. There's such a tactile quality to this print. The crisscrossing lines create a dense, almost palpable texture. See how the hatching varies, sometimes tight and controlled, other times loose and energetic? That contrast gives the buildings a real sense of depth and weight. I keep coming back to the way Ferber renders the sky, those quick, swirling lines feel like a direct transcription of his hand movements, full of immediacy. It reminds me a little of Piranesi’s architectural prints, but with a distinctly modern sensibility. Like Ferber, I often find myself using line to explore space and form, always embracing the unexpected twists and turns that arise along the way. For me, art is a journey, not a destination.