Two Horses 1906

Donald Shaw MacLaughlan made this print, *Two Horses*, using etching, a process of scratching into a metal plate. Look closely, and you can see the density of tiny, nervous marks. What I love about etching is how the artist’s hand is so present. You can feel the decisions being made, the scratching and re-scratching, and the way the plate holds onto those marks, printing them again and again. See how the horses are built from these wiry lines, almost shivering with energy. The surface is rough, immediate; it’s not trying to hide anything. Notice those little squiggles under the horse on the left; they could be water, or maybe just the artist testing the plate. MacLaughlan’s prints remind me of Whistler's, that same interest in the everyday, the working life. And, like all good art, this piece isn’t just about horses; it’s about the touch, the feel, and the beautiful, imperfect record of a hand at work.