Heerengracht bij de Reguliersgracht, Amsterdam 1924

This small etching of the Heerengracht in Amsterdam by Frederik van der Harst is made up of thousands of tiny strokes that build up to form a beautiful winter scene. It reminds us that art making is often a slow, accretive process. Up close, you can see how the artist uses the etched line to suggest form, texture, and even atmosphere. Look at the way he renders the snow-covered bridge, with its delicate tracery of lines. It's as though he's not just depicting a scene, but also capturing the feeling of a crisp, cold winter's day. The water under the bridge is rendered with such expressive lines that give you the impression of real depth. This piece reminds me of the work of James McNeill Whistler, who also used etching to create atmospheric and evocative scenes of urban life. Like Whistler, van der Harst invites us to slow down, to really look, and to appreciate the beauty of the everyday. It shows how art can transform the ordinary into something extraordinary.