Undersea 1937

Stanley William Hayter made this print, called Undersea, using engraving and etching. It’s all about the line, isn't it? The way the lines build up this underwater world is fantastic; you can really see the process in action. There is a real sense of movement, maybe like seaweed in the water, but it's all achieved with these static, etched lines. Look at how he uses cross-hatching to create tone and texture, especially in the foreground. You get a sense of the gritty seabed. The linear quality reminds me of Picasso’s drawings. It’s a great example of how a limited medium, just line and tone, can create such an evocative space.