Herderin met schapen 1926

Jean Emile Laboureur made this print, Herderin met schapen, at some point, using etching. What I love about etching is how it captures light, not just describes it, but embodies it. The way Laboureur uses line is really interesting: there's a density to it, especially in the foreground, that gives way to a softer, more open treatment as you move into the distance. Look at the marks in the lower right, those short, scratchy lines that seem to vibrate on the surface. The texture that’s created through this process is really tactile. The overall effect makes me feel like I’m actually standing there in the field, feeling the sun, and watching the sheep. This piece reminds me of some of the early modernists like Bonnard or Vuillard, how they were also trying to capture a sense of place through really intimate, domestic scenes. Art's just this ongoing conversation, right?