Springtime (Le Printemps) 1923

Andre Dunoyer de Segonzac made this artwork called 'Springtime' using etching, a printmaking technique. Imagine him, in front of the metal plate, tools in hand, carefully scratching lines to create this evocative landscape. It's all done with a monochromatic palette, using blacks and whites, and tones in between to suggest light and shadow. I see the rider and the horse in the middle ground, and I imagine Segonzac thinking about the changing seasons, capturing the promise of new beginnings. The linear quality of the etching creates a sense of depth. It reminds me of other landscape painters, like Corot, maybe even some of the Hudson River School painters, who were all trying to capture the sublime beauty of nature. I see the conversation among artists across time, each building on what came before, pushing the boundaries of representation. Painting, and printmaking, for that matter, it’s all about that, isn’t it? A continuous exploration.