In a Backwater Bayhead 1913

Cadwallader Washburn made "In a Backwater Bayhead" with etching on paper. I love how Washburn's marks build up this scene. You can almost hear the water and feel the tall grass. Look at the fallen tree trunk in the foreground – you see all these short, deliberate lines. I imagine Washburn standing there, squinting, carefully choosing each stroke to give it weight and texture. Did he feel the heat? Was he swatting mosquitoes? I mean, every mark is a decision, right? And there’s something about the way the boats are sketched in the background... it's like a memory, not quite sharp, but definitely there. It reminds me of Whistler, but maybe a little more rugged. It makes you think about all the other artists who've stood in similar spots, trying to capture a moment, a feeling, with just a few lines.