Fishing Boats, Boulogne-sur-Mer 1902

Donald Shaw MacLaughlan made this print of fishing boats using etching, a technique that’s all about mark-making. I love to imagine him, plate in hand, carefully drawing through the acid-resistant ground to create those lines. There's something about the immediacy of etching that captures the hustle and bustle of the harbor. The masts, rigging, and sails become a dense thicket of lines, with just enough light peeking through to give you a sense of depth. You can feel the energy of the dock workers as they go about their tasks. The texture of the brickwork and the rough-hewn quality of the boats is palpable. It reminds me of Whistler's etchings of the Thames, but with a touch more grit. Artists, we're all magpies, picking up shiny bits and pieces from each other across time. It’s this constant conversation that keeps art alive. Painting, printmaking, they're all about embracing the messy, uncertain process of trying to make sense of the world.