Zes schetsen van een marktdag en een dorpskermis 1872 - 1931

Willem de Zwart made this print, ‘Zes schetsen van een marktdag en een dorpskermis’ or 'Six Sketches of a Market Day and Village Fair,' with etching, drypoint and roulette. It's like de Zwart is playing the part of a roving reporter, capturing the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Look at how he uses line to create the illusion of depth, even though it's just a flat surface. He’s etching marks into the plate and working it until it has that perfect density. I am drawn to the lower center sketch, it has an incredible density of characters milling about and minding their business. This speaks to de Zwart's awareness of the old masters and his ability to bring that sensibility into his work. He’s having a conversation with them, responding to their ideas, and pushing them forward. It’s like he’s saying, ‘Okay, I see what you did, now let me show you what I can do.’ It is a form that embraces ambiguity.