Boom 1977

This small etching, "Boom", was made by Kees Stoop, but when exactly, we don’t know. What I love about a print like this is how the artist has embraced a very particular kind of mark making to build up a whole world. If you look closely, you see that the whole image is made up of tiny little dots, building up the form of the tree, the leaves, and the thicket behind. It's a very physical process, making all those tiny marks, and you get a real sense of the artist’s hand. I love the way that he uses this kind of stippling to capture the rough texture of the bark, especially at the base of the trunk. This print reminds me of the etchings of Samuel Palmer. Both artists share an interest in the English countryside, and a very personal, almost obsessive, way of describing the natural world. For me, the real charm of this work lies in its open invitation to slow down and really look.