Interior of Charcoal Shop, Florence 1905

This is Donald Shaw MacLaughlan’s "Interior of Charcoal Shop, Florence," made with etching on paper, and it’s so moody! I can imagine MacLaughlan in Florence, the smell of charcoal dust in the air, the weight of the copper plate in his hand, the scratching of the needle, and the biting of the acid. The air itself seems thick and velvety, almost as if the entire scene is veiled in charcoal dust. It’s as if the air is as much a character as any of the figures. This work reminds me of Piranesi’s etchings of Rome. They both have this dramatic use of light and shadow, which creates a sense of mystery and grandeur. I really feel the weight of art history here, those artists are in constant conversation, echoing and expanding each other's visions. Isn’t it amazing how art lets us time-travel and be in multiple places at once?