"La Trinité," Vendôme 1938

John Taylor Arms made this etching of “La Trinité, Vendôme” sometime in the first half of the twentieth century. Look at the cathedral, how it rises up like a pale, spiky ghost. It’s like the artist is building the façade line by line, imbuing the stone with light and air. I can imagine him, bent over the copper plate, his hand moving with meticulous care. It’s interesting to consider the labor involved. All those tiny, precise marks, so many details. It reminds me of how medieval artists would have worked – the sheer devotion of time and energy. I love the way the light seems to shimmer and glow. It's a testament to the power of the artist's hand, transforming something solid and heavy into something ethereal. I wonder if Arms was inspired by earlier etchers? It’s so interesting to see how artists build on each other’s work!