Pittsburgh, U.S.A. c. 1925

This drypoint etching, Pittsburgh, U.S.A., was made by William Walcot, and you can almost feel the artist scratching away at the plate, trying to capture a sense of this industrial landscape. I love how Walcot's mark-making conveys the immensity and energy of the industrial city. He probably felt small standing before the scale of the city, you can see the bridge dwarfing the buildings. Just imagine what it felt like to be an artist in the early 20th century, witnessing all this expansion. There's the bridge in the background, almost like a ghost, and then the bustling foreground. The etching reminds me of Piranesi's architectural fantasies but with a modern, industrial twist. I think Walcot must have been in conversation with other artists throughout history. Ultimately, he captures the energy of a place undergoing constant change. The medium of etching, with its delicate lines and tonal range, allows him to evoke a sense of both the grit and the grandeur of Pittsburgh.