American Landscape 1920

Edward Hopper made this etching, American Landscape, using black ink. It feels to me like a study in contrasts, you know? The way he layers the etched lines, it's not just about depicting a scene, but about building depth. The process becomes really visible. Up close, you can see how the texture of the ground is created with these really distinct, almost frantic lines. They pull your eye forward, making the animals in the field jump out at you, and yet, they also flatten the space. The house in the background is more subtly worked. The contrast makes it feel distant, like a memory. It’s fascinating how Hopper uses these simple lines to create such an emotional impact. Hopper's approach here reminds me a little of Whistler's etchings, where the mood is everything and the details are left for the viewer to fill in. It’s about suggestion, not statement, and that's what makes it so compelling.