Chor Bazaar 1994

Bruce Peck made this print called Chor Bazaar using etching in 1994. It's a tightly rendered scene, where the artist uses hatching to bring the bazaar to life. The ink is kind of dry, or maybe Peck wiped the plate, but the overall effect is crisp and textured. If you look closely, you can see how the marks create depth, defining the buildings and the bustling crowds. The artist uses only black and white to convey the vibrant street, relying on tone, texture, and the physical process of etching. See that figure in the lower right, rendered with such quick, gestural lines? This way of suggesting detail rather than defining it precisely really brings the scene to life. This piece reminds me of the urban landscapes of David Hockney, where the artist also uses line to capture the energy of a place. Peck really gets at the chaotic beauty of the bazaar; it is a testament to the power of art to evoke a sense of place through simple means.