Savoie 1943

Roger Vieillard created this etching, Savoie, with delicate lines that dance across the paper, mapping out a landscape. The drawing feels like a process; each line carefully placed, yet with a sense of immediacy. There is something incredibly tactile about the way Vieillard uses line. In the upper-right corner, a series of small marks create a cluster, like a thicket of trees clinging to the hillside. This single area encapsulates the entire piece, it shows how a simple mark can evoke depth and texture. The choice to leave so much of the paper untouched creates a feeling of openness, inviting us to project our own memories and experiences onto this landscape. Vieillard’s work has a kinship with artists like Agnes Martin, who also found profound meaning in the simplest of forms. Like Martin, Vieillard shows us that art doesn’t need to shout to be heard; sometimes, the quietest voices resonate the deepest. It leaves space for the viewer to bring their own interpretation.