Fondamento Rielo, Venice 1924

Ernest D. Roth made this etching of Venice, called Fondamento Rielo, using ink on paper. The intricacy of the lines and the subtle tonal variations Roth achieves through etching are really something. The way he captures the bustling atmosphere of Venice through the sheer density of marks is really compelling. Look at how the reflections in the water are evoked with such delicate, almost scribbled lines. There’s a sense of immediacy and spontaneity, as if he’s trying to capture a fleeting moment. It’s like he’s sketching with light. And think about the physical act of etching – the artist dragging a tool across a metal plate, each line a deliberate decision. You can almost feel the artist's hand moving across the surface. This is a conversation between the artist and the metal, a dance of pressure and resistance. The way Roth creates depth and texture through these marks reminds me of Piranesi, who also used etching to create these immersive, almost dreamlike cityscapes.