Quayside 1915

Francis Dodd made "Quayside" using etching, and what's so cool about etching is how direct it feels, like you're drawing right onto the metal. Check out the density of the lines building up the buildings on the left compared to the open sky, it gives a real sense of depth and weight. I’m drawn to the little figures dotted along the quayside. They’re not overly detailed, but each one is rendered with enough attention that it gives the scene a narrative quality. Dodd has this way of capturing light and atmosphere with just a few well-placed lines, a bit like Whistler, don’t you think? Both artists have this ability to transform everyday scenes into something poetic, something that invites you to pause and really see. It reminds us that art is about looking, about feeling, and about finding our own story within the image.