Sketch from the Walls of San Gimignano 1909

Donald Shaw MacLaughlan made this etching, Sketch from the Walls of San Gimignano, using a plate and sheet, a technique that embraces process. The fine lines create a delicate scene, like a memory fading into the paper. The texture is smooth, but the marks are clear. You can see the artist's hand in the varying pressure of the lines, especially in the foreground where the cross-hatching deepens the shadows. This part feels solid and grounded. As the eye moves upwards, the lines become lighter, more suggestive, creating a sense of distance and airiness. The horizon line is barely there, a whisper. It reminds me a little of Whistler's landscapes, a similar interest in capturing a mood with minimal means. The ambiguity is the point. The image invites you to fill in the gaps, to wander through the hills of your own imagination.