Springtime 1939

Edward R. Ferguson made this print of a blossoming tree using hatching and delicate mark-making. It’s a springtime scene, full of the promise of new life, with the blossom framed by the ordinariness of backyard sheds and laundry lines. I can imagine Ferguson sitting with his pencil, observing and translating the three-dimensional world into a two-dimensional plane. How his hand moved, at first tentatively, then with more confidence, carefully layering tone to create form and depth. The lines of the tree branches reach out like grasping hands and the weight of the blossom pulls them down towards the laundry. The hanging cloth is like a flag, signalling an end to winter. I wonder if Ferguson’s intimate portrayal of everyday life was a conscious decision, or simply a reflection of his immediate surroundings? Whatever his intention, his gentle observations remind us of the beauty and resilience of life. He is reminding us to appreciate the quiet moments of beauty that surround us, even in the most unassuming places.