Petit Port--La Corniche, Marseilles 1928

Paul Gangolf created this print of Petit Port—La Corniche, Marseilles, using etching, and if you look closely you can see that the lines used to create the image aren’t always perfect, straight or clean; there's a real handmade quality to the image. The artist's way of building this scene is fascinating. There's a real material quality to the image, with a texture that invites you to feel the grit of the city. You'll notice how the rooftops are piled up, with architectural structures stacked, one on top of the other. In the foreground, the water almost seems to churn. It’s really cool how he captures the sense of a place, with all its organized chaos. In his work, the process becomes visible. The mark-making is almost like handwriting, personal and immediate. It reminds me of the work of someone like Emil Nolde. Like Nolde, Gangolf uses his medium to push beyond mere representation, embracing the possibilities of the material. Art isn't about answers; it's about embracing the questions.