Stad in Spanje 1903

This etching, "Stad in Spanje," by Wijnand Otto Jan Nieuwenkamp, captures a city in Spain with incredible detail through delicate lines. Looking at this piece, I’m immediately drawn to the process, the labor-intensive act of creating such a complex image with etching. There's a real physicality to the medium here, even though it’s a print. The way the lines accumulate to create depth and shadow, especially on the mountainside and architecture, gives a tangible feel to the landscape. Notice how the artist uses these lines not just to define form but also to suggest texture. Each stroke feels deliberate, contributing to a sense of depth and solidity. It makes me think of Piranesi, another master of architectural prints. But where Piranesi often emphasized the grandeur and scale of human construction, Nieuwenkamp seems more interested in the interplay between the built environment and the natural landscape. It’s like he's showing us a conversation between human creation and the enduring presence of the earth. In the end, it’s all just marks on paper, but what a world they create.