Hear Ye, Hear Ye, Hear Ye 1928

This etching by Dwight Case Sturges shows a courtroom scene rendered in shades of grey. Look how the artist makes this solemn scene feel so alive. It's like he's sketching with light and shadow. The texture here is pretty cool, right? The fine lines create depth and form, giving the characters weight. See how Sturges uses dense, scratchy lines to build up the darks in the main figure's coat and hair? It’s almost like he’s carving the image out of the paper. The man has such a stern look and a full beard. I'm drawn to that area particularly, the use of lines is so loose and free but they work perfectly to describe the details. Sturges was part of a wider tradition of American etchers like Whistler and Pennell. They shared an interest in capturing modern life with a sense of immediacy. This scene might not be something we can say has a set meaning. It's more like an invitation to imagine a story.