Gezicht op de Seine in Parijs 1888 - 1934

Willem Adrianus Grondhout made this print, "Gezicht op de Seine in Parijs," with etching. Look at how he's captured the hazy light on the Seine! It's all about mark-making, isn’t it? A kind of dance between intention and accident. The texture feels almost velvety, like a worn photograph. See how the network of tiny lines makes up the buildings and the bridge? It’s like he’s built this whole world out of almost nothing. My eye keeps going to the crane on the left, it's a dark, solid form, a great contrast to the delicate lines everywhere else. This feels like it's in conversation with Whistler's etchings, that same moodiness, the same love for the city. Both artists aren't just documenting a scene, they're giving us a feeling. That’s what art is, right? An ongoing conversation, a game of telephone across time.