Notre Dame, Poictiers 1912

This etching of Notre Dame, Poictiers, was made by Frank Brangwyn, but it's undated. I can only imagine the many, many lines it took to create this scene! You get the feeling that Brangwyn was really building it up, stroke by stroke. I can imagine him outside in all weathers, working on the plate, trying to capture the essence of the building. The texture reminds me of Piranesi, and his dark, moody cityscapes – but Brangwyn has a softer touch. See how he renders the building with such care, and then adds those little figures in the foreground. It gives the whole thing a sense of life and movement, a hustle and bustle. It reminds me that every artist is building on the work of those who came before, and passing something on to those who come next. It’s like a great, big conversation that never ends. Painting isn't just about making a picture; it's about feeling something, and then figuring out how to share that feeling with other people.