Rue Grenier sur l'Eau, Paris c. 20th century

Editor: This is Herman Armour Webster’s etching, *Rue Grenier sur l'Eau, Paris*, housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It’s a cozy scene, a narrow Parisian street that leads the eye right to a church tower in the distance. What strikes you about it? Curator: It's a masterful use of line, isn’t it? Webster captures the essence of old Paris with such delicate precision. I almost feel like I can hear the echoes of footsteps on those cobblestones. The way he uses light and shadow, it's as if the buildings are breathing. Does it remind you of other artists or movements? Editor: Now that you mention it, it does remind me a little of some impressionist paintings that I've seen. Curator: Yes, but with a twist. Instead of blurry strokes, we have this intricate network of lines. It’s as if he's building the scene from the ground up, layer by layer. What do you think about the tower in the background? Editor: It looms quite large in comparison to the surrounding buildings. Curator: And yet, it feels perfectly at home. Webster’s managed to find the soul of Paris in this quiet little street. Editor: I never would have noticed the detail without our conversation!