The Salute 1909

Curator: Donald Shaw MacLaughlan created this etching, “The Salute,” in 1909. It captures a Venetian cityscape. The precision of the lines creates such remarkable architectural details. Editor: It almost looks like an architectural drawing, more focused on the structure of the buildings than atmosphere or emotion. Though the shadows in the street do add a hint of mystery. Curator: Precisely. Notice how MacLaughlan employs hatching and cross-hatching to define forms and suggest depth. The strategic placement of the lines leads your eye upwards towards the majestic dome. This technique serves not only to illustrate but also to create a visual hierarchy. Editor: I am drawn to the buildings alongside the street, the repetitive labour involved in crafting such structures, each brick and tile speaking to the physical act of their assembly and to me, these lines are rough sketches showing their place, documenting the work on a budget that still brings beauty to us today. Curator: While it depicts Venice, which historically valued grandeur and ornamentation, the artist chose to depict scaffolding along the top dome of the cathedral suggesting even Venice is ever evolving and improving itself. The medium of etching adds to that notion that there is still much to discover as each plate and stroke of the artist shows in these pieces. Editor: Seeing it that way changes my point of view, too, though what speaks to me the most is still its capacity to expose the way humans make their world and make themselves as workers in the grand tradition of the Italian street artists. Curator: A valuable point, especially regarding artistic interpretation in this specific artwork. Editor: Considering its medium and focus on structure and labor makes for a memorable experience for visitors. Curator: I agree. "The Salute" becomes an ode not just to Venice's aesthetic beauty, but to human’s constructive capabilities.