Calle Pescheria, Venice 1914

Muirhead Bone made this print called Calle Pescheria, Venice using etching, a printmaking process that allows for these incredible details, all these tiny hatching marks. It’s amazing how Bone captures the hustle and bustle of the Venetian fish market with just the barest suggestion of forms. Look at how he uses the lines, they are so descriptive and economical. See the awnings stretching out over the stalls? They create a sense of depth and shadow, drawing you into the scene. The whole thing is rendered in this warm, sepia tone, which gives it a timeless quality, like an old photograph. It makes me think of Piranesi, another master of architectural prints. Both artists share a fascination with the play of light and shadow, and how these elements can transform the ordinary into something extraordinary. I love how art gives us new ways of seeing the world around us.