Brunette Head and Shoulders 1933

John Sloan made this etching, called "Brunette Head and Shoulders," sometime in the first half of the 20th century, and you can see all these tiny little etched lines, the way they build up the image, mark by mark. Looking closely, you can see how the density of these lines creates tone, how he uses the cross-hatching to build up the shadows on the figure's body, or in the folds of her hair. Then, look at the open, blank spaces that suggest light, like on her cheek. It's this interplay of light and shadow that gives the image its depth and volume. The whole piece has a kind of raw energy to it, like you can feel him working, almost like an off-kilter take on some of those old master paintings of bathers. It reminds me a little of Käthe Kollwitz, that same kind of searching line, and emotional intensity. It's like he's saying that art is about process, about the conversation between the artist and the material.