Botanical Garden 1963

Peter Milton created this print, Botanical Garden, working with etching to give us a garden view. It’s all about the line here, isn't it? A garden captured in ink. Look at the ground, the bricks pulled together with such energy they seem to hum with life. Milton's hand isn’t trying to capture an exact image; instead, it's the sensation of being within the garden itself, all of its abundant detail. The artist focuses on the foreground, almost obscuring the view beyond. It makes you feel like you’re stuck, or maybe happily held, in the present moment. I can’t help but think of Piranesi’s etchings when I look at Milton’s work. Both artists are obsessed with detail, using the printmaking process to create these wildly intense, fantastical worlds. Ultimately, both remind us that art is less about perfect representation and more about the messy, joyful act of making.