The North Porch, Harfleur 1904

David Young Cameron made "The North Porch, Harfleur" using etching; drypoint. Look closely, and you can see the lines and marks layered on top of each other, defining every surface of this gothic doorway. I imagine Cameron patiently working on the plate, scratching and biting into it. The architectural details are incredible. There is this tension between the imposing structure and the figures stepping in from the sunlight. I find myself wondering about their lives, their stories. As a painter, I am fascinated by the contrast between the light and dark in Cameron’s image. Notice how the velvety blacks and the silvery grays create depth and atmosphere, drawing you into the shadows of the porch. The texture of the paper and the quality of the line are equally important to the overall feeling of the work. You know, I'm always looking at prints, drawings, and photographs, wondering what I can steal and translate into my own language of abstraction.