Sardine Fleet 1928

Kerr Eby made this print called Sardine Fleet, with etched lines that pull you into a blustery scene. The waves are kicking up, rendered by a flurry of marks, like the artist was trying to capture not just the look, but also the feel of the wind and the spray. I can imagine Eby outside in the cold, squinting, trying to capture that gray atmosphere. The acid biting into the metal of the plate, mirroring the cold sea biting at his skin. There's a little cluster of figures in the foreground, facing out toward the water, maybe waiting for someone. The backs of their heads are so expressive. I particularly love the smallest figure, maybe a child, who tugs on the hand of one of the adults, drawing attention and connection. You can feel their anticipation. Eby’s work reminds me of other printmakers like Whistler, who were also obsessed with capturing fleeting atmospheric effects. Artists, we’re always looking, always learning from each other, trying to make sense of the world through marks and gestures.