North Marston Church 1909

F. L. Griggs made this etching of North Marston Church, with its linear architecture, sometime between 1876 and 1938. Looking at this print, I imagine the artist, deeply absorbed, scratching away at the plate. I can almost hear the sound of the tool on metal, each tiny stroke building this evocative image. The whole scene is rendered in these fine, dark lines against a tan background. Griggs creates depth through hatching and cross-hatching, which is pretty common for etchings from that period. Notice how the lines vary in thickness and density, creating a sense of light and shadow that brings the church to life. It reminds me of the work of other printmakers, like Whistler or Piranesi, who also used line to create atmosphere and mood. You can tell that they're all in conversation with each other. I bet Griggs was looking at their work, thinking about how to push his own practice. It's like a never ending game of telephone!