Meloncello, Italy 1904

Curator: Here we have "Meloncello, Italy", an etching by Donald Shaw MacLaughlan. What's your first impression? Editor: It feels like a memory, hazy and comforting. The light, etched lines give it a gentle, nostalgic quality. Curator: Absolutely. McLaughlan had a real knack for capturing atmosphere through his mark-making. The etching technique lends itself so well to the subject matter, with the small details building up the overall scene. Notice how the light catches the building... Editor: And the animals. Cattle have always been symbols of prosperity, domesticity... a grounded sense of place. This scene feels archetypal; it could be anywhere, and anytime. Curator: I agree; there's a timelessness to it. It reminds us that even in a specific locale like Meloncello, some things – the daily rhythms, the connection to the land – remain constant. Editor: Precisely, which is what makes it so universally appealing, I think. It’s like a familiar dream.