Vlooienmarkt in een landschap 1882 - 1922

Auguste Brouet made this print, Vlooienmarkt in een landschap, using etching. The way he builds up the image with layers of fine lines is so intriguing, like watching a drawing slowly emerge from a tangle of threads. You can almost feel the scratching of the needle across the plate. Look closely, and you'll see how the marks vary in density, creating shadows and highlights that give the scene depth and texture. The chaotic energy of the flea market is palpable. My eye keeps getting drawn back to the figure carrying a huge sack – it looks so heavy, you can feel the weight of it in your shoulders. The lines are thicker and more defined there, adding to the sense of burden. Brouet’s work has a similar feel to some of the etchings of Whistler. Both artists use line to convey a sense of atmosphere and movement, embracing the inherent ambiguity of the medium to create images that are as much about feeling as they are about seeing.