Moonlight on the Grassy Bank 1919

Arthur Bowen Davies made this print, Moonlight on the Grassy Bank, using a process of etching to build up tone and texture. It's like he’s feeling his way through the dark, guided by the moon. Look at how he’s built up these dense areas of shadow on the right, pulling our eye to the negative space of the lighter figure on the left. The bodies almost seem to emerge from the landscape, like nymphs awaking from a dream. The etching feels soft, almost like velvet. You can see how the ink bleeds into the paper, creating a kind of hazy atmosphere. It's loose and free, as if he’s not trying to nail anything down, just letting it be. I’m reminded of Odilon Redon’s prints, there is a similar symbolism, but Davies feels more grounded, more connected to the earth. It’s that earthy quality, that’s the magic for me. The print is like a conversation, an invitation to wonder.