Le Grill 1929 - 1932

Andre Dunoyer de Segonzac made "Le Grill" using etching, and it feels like a snapshot of a fleeting moment. The marks are scratchy, almost nervous, like he’s trying to capture something before it disappears. There’s a real sense of touch here. You can almost feel the artist’s hand moving across the plate, digging into the metal to create those lines. Notice how the cross-hatching builds up the shadows, giving the grill a real sense of volume and weight, while elsewhere thin lines are used to imply a sense of light. It’s this push and pull between precision and looseness that I find so compelling. It reminds me of Picasso's etchings, where a few lines can suggest a whole world. It’s about suggestion, and how much you can leave out, rather than what you put in. It’s like a visual haiku. The process gives rise to a feeling that’s ephemeral and lovely.