West Wind c. 1920s

Percival Gaskell made this etching, West Wind, which looks like it could have been yesterday or a hundred years ago. The tones move around, almost like when you squint, trying to make out a landscape in the distance. I’m drawn to how the dark ink catches in the paper, giving the whole scene a tangible weight. Look at the top right corner, how the clouds almost seem to gather and spill over the mountains. It’s like Gaskell wanted us to feel the wind as much as see it. There’s a real push-and-pull between the delicate lines and the overall moodiness. It reminds me a bit of Whistler's landscapes, where the atmosphere is everything. Both artists capture something essential about light and space, making you feel like you’re right there in the middle of it all, breathing the same air. And isn’t that what art is all about, creating a shared experience?