Brug in Parijs 1888 - 1934

Willem Adrianus Grondhout made this etching of a bridge in Paris, we don't know exactly when. I see a real commitment to mark making in this piece. There are so many tiny lines here, built up into a full image of a Parisian street. The physical marks are very present, which is interesting in an etching, because they can sometimes feel a little bit slick. But here you can really feel the scratch of the tool on the plate. See how the lines around the arches of the bridge create these deep shadows? That gives the whole scene a kind of looming, atmospheric feel. And then there's the contrast between those heavy shadows and the very delicate lines of the buildings in the background. It reminds me a little bit of Piranesi, who was also obsessed with these monumental architectural forms, and the way that we experience them as humans. Art's just one big conversation, isn't it?