Quayside 1915

Francis Dodd made this etching, Quayside, using delicate strokes that create a scene of buildings and boats by the water's edge. I can almost imagine Dodd, bent over the plate, carefully layering lines to capture the light reflecting off the buildings. I love how the closely-packed strokes give the scene a hazy, dreamlike quality. There’s a real sense of place. I wonder if Dodd was trying to capture a feeling, a memory, of this spot. Look how each line seems to have its own unique weight and direction, which is something I really admire in artists. It reminds me of Whistler's etchings of the Thames, those foggy London scenes that are so full of atmosphere. It makes you realize that artists are always talking to each other across time, borrowing, and riffing on ideas, each adding their own voice to the conversation. For me, this image is not just a picture of a quayside, it’s an invitation to wander and dream and wonder about the stories held within its delicate lines.