Lynn Harbor 1915

Philip Little made this etching, Lynn Harbor, using black ink on paper. Look closely at the dry, scratchy marks, the dark, moody sky, and the way he creates form through thin, wiry lines. I can imagine him working on the plate, hunched over, carefully drawing in reverse with a needle, building up the image bit by bit. Think about how an etching differs from a drawing, you can make so many of them! This allows the image to be disseminated and reach more people. You can see Little’s fascination with light and shadow, the industrial chimneys against the misty atmosphere. It's a scene of quiet industry, with the boats and rigging creating a delicate dance on the horizon. When I look at this, I’m reminded of Whistler’s etchings of the Thames, but with a distinctly American sensibility. Artists are always in conversation with each other, riffing and expanding upon what came before. It shows how painting isn't just about depicting what we see, but how we see it, offering multiple ways of experiencing the world.