Zicht op de haven van Boulogne-sur-Mer 1920

Eugène Bejot etched this view of the harbor of Boulogne-sur-Mer, using a technique which demands careful planning and deliberate mark-making, a real testament to artmaking as a process. The artwork is an intricate web of fine lines, each carefully placed to define form and space. Look at the buildings in the background, or the rigging of the ships - these are not broad strokes, but rather delicate articulations. The artist’s hand isn't trying to hide itself. Bejot is playing with light, creating depth and atmosphere. The reflections in the water, for example, aren't just a mirror image but rather seem to shimmer and dissolve. In this way Bejot reminds me of Whistler, in the way he captures a sense of place and atmosphere. And isn’t it all just an ongoing conversation anyway?