Untitled 2018

EtchingRoom1 made this interesting drawing sometime after 2016, using a restricted palette of black and white. Look at how the artist has constructed a busy, but carefully balanced scene! I am really responding to the contrast between the dark pool of water below and the structures in the top half of the image, which include bridges, a train, and figures. All are rendered using careful penmanship. The artist is juggling representation and abstraction, and there’s a playful, experimental quality to the scene. I wonder if the artist felt a sense of freedom when making this piece. This piece reminds me of other artists who work with similar themes and techniques, such as Paul Klee and David Hockney. Like them, EtchingRoom1 seems interested in exploring the possibilities of line and form, using them to create a sense of depth and movement. I’m sure the conversations between artists about these concerns will continue to reverberate through art history!