The Year's at the Spring 1920

Harry Clarke made this image, The Year's at the Spring, using black ink to bring this scene to life. The composition is a study in contrasts, a ship set against a sky hatched with delicate lines. I wonder what Harry Clarke was thinking as he laid down those strokes, each one precise, building up the mood of this quiet, dreamy image? The density of the ink evokes a palpable feeling of night and the industrial shape of the ship contrasts with the vastness of the sea. It reminds me of the work of Aubrey Beardsley, and how illustrators and printmakers are like painters, creating a dialogue across the ages. These linear forms offer a particular way of seeing, thinking, and experiencing the world. The way Clarke uses the textures creates space for interpretation, making the piece deeply felt and alive.