The City of Towers 1909

Donald Shaw MacLaughlan made this etching, "The City of Towers," sometime in the early 20th century. It’s all about line, a choreography of tiny marks building up to this grand scene. Look at the way he renders those towers, how the lines become denser, darker, to give them weight and solidity. Then he uses a lighter, more open touch for the trees and foliage. It’s all about creating depth and texture through the density of the marks. And down in the foreground, notice those scribbled figures on the rocks. They’re so loose and gestural, like a little burst of energy amidst all the detail. It reminds me that art is not just about precision, it’s also about capturing a feeling, a moment, a sense of place. Whistler comes to mind, particularly in the way he uses etching to capture the atmosphere of a city. It's an ongoing conversation, this art thing, isn’t it?