Winter, St. Ives, Cornwall c. 1895 - 1910

Richard Hayley Lever made this black-and-white print of Winter, St. Ives, Cornwall, using an etching technique. You can imagine him there in the depths of winter, squinting and shivering as he sketched the bare bones of the scene. Look how he carves out the details with these sharp lines, making the whole place look sleepy and still. I love how he captures the roughness of the buildings with all these intricate lines. It’s like he’s feeling out the shapes and textures of the scene, almost like he’s drawing with his eyes closed. The artist wants us to see the bare beauty of a winter landscape. I am thinking about other printmakers, like Whistler, who were fascinated by the textures and tones of grey and black ink on paper. Artists are always having this ongoing conversation, aren't they? They challenge each other and push the limits of what art can be. This piece shows how art can be simple yet deep, revealing new ways to experience the world.