End of the Race c. 1920

Edward Borein made this etching, "End of the Race", and what strikes me is how he captured a sense of movement with all those tiny little lines. You know, it's all about the process, the way the artist coaxes an image to life through repeated action. The texture is really interesting; the surface feels almost like fabric because of the way the ink sits on the paper. Notice the horse, how it seems to be suspended in mid-air, with all four hooves off the ground. It reminds me of the futurist paintings. It's like Borein is trying to capture not just a moment, but the feeling of speed itself. And those shadows beneath the animals; they’re so gestural, like he just flicked the ink on. Ultimately, this print feels connected to earlier, almost classical traditions of etching. But that cowboy swagger gives it a completely new flavor. Art is always a conversation, isn’t it?