Paris Stock Exchange 1930

Anton Schutz made this etching of the Paris Stock Exchange, and you can just imagine the intense labor of it! There are so many tiny lines which coalesce to produce an overall impression. I can imagine Anton hunched over a plate, scratching away, building up the image bit by bit. He must have had such patience! Look how he captures the hustle and bustle of city life, the grand architecture, and the everyday energy. His marks are precise but also sensitive, giving the scene a kind of nervous, electric feel. I’m struck by how this print reminds me of Piranesi’s etchings of Rome. Both artists were drawn to architecture and how it defines the city. It makes me think about how artists are in constant dialogue with each other across time, finding new ways to see and represent the world.