Old House, Rue des Arpents, Rouen, I 1909

John Marin made this etching called 'Old House, Rue des Arpents, Rouen, I,' and it looks like he made it in one go, right? The marks are so immediate. There’s a real sense of discovery. He's using line to describe form, but it's not just about representation. Look at how the lines vary in weight and direction. There's a nervous energy, a kind of vibrating quality, especially in the facade of the building on the right. It makes the architecture feel alive. It's like he's trying to capture the feeling of being there, the hustle and bustle. The marks around the figures in the foreground are so minimal but they really convey movement. Marin’s work reminds me a little of the German Expressionist printmakers, like Kirchner, but with a lighter touch, a more American sensibility. He’s not afraid to leave things unresolved, to embrace the sketchiness. It’s less about perfection and more about the experience.