Green Umbrellas, Orvieto, Italy 1932

Earl Stetson Crawford made this print, Green Umbrellas, Orvieto, Italy, using etching. The whole scene is made of marks, these tiny little lines that together build up the image. To me, printmaking is so similar to artmaking itself: it's all about process and steps. Look at the way the marks create texture, especially in the buildings. It’s almost like Crawford is letting us feel the age and the history of the place. The rain is made of thin, vertical lines, like the quick strokes of a pen. And down below, notice the way he etches the reflections in the puddles. It's like another world existing right there on the street. The lamppost in the center is so interesting. It has a heart shape in it. Maybe it's just a design element, but I think it also adds a touch of warmth to an otherwise gray and rainy day. You know, there's something about Edward Hopper, with his urban scenes. They both capture these moments in time.