Fishing Boats, Boulogne-sur-Mer 1902

Donald Shaw MacLaughlan made this etching, Fishing Boats, Boulogne-sur-Mer, sometime in the early 20th century. The magic’s in the details – the cross hatching, the delicate lines, all building up this bustling harbor scene. It really speaks to the work involved, the making of marks, and the slow layering of imagery. I love how MacLaughlan uses line to create texture, see the masts and rigging of the boats? It’s a dense web, almost chaotic, but your eye finds a path through it. The boats themselves look like they are floating on the water, but they’re made of nothing but ink on paper. There's something about the way he captures the light, using these tiny etched lines. Maybe it’s reminiscent of Whistler, both artists loved to play with light, atmosphere, and the beauty of everyday scenes. Art’s just a big conversation, right?