Symphony in White, No. III 1908

This print, Symphony in White, No. III, was made with etching by Peter von Halm and you can see it at the Art Institute of Chicago. The first thing that strikes me is how Halm uses the etching technique to create such delicate variations in tone. It's almost like he's painting with light, layering these tiny marks to build up the forms of the two women and their surroundings. The way the white dresses seem to float and blend into the background is really beautiful. There’s a kind of dreamlike quality to the piece, like we’re looking at a memory or a fleeting impression. I am drawn to the way the dress drapes over the figure that is seated. It is rendered with the greatest of detail in tone, and in a way that is similar to draping in classical sculptures. It reminds me a bit of Whistler's work, both in its focus on color and atmosphere, and in its embrace of ambiguity. It’s the kind of image that invites you to slow down, linger, and let your imagination wander.