The Workshop 1905

David Young Cameron made this etching, called "The Workshop," using a network of fine lines to create a world of light and shadow. The whole scene is built from process, a dense layering of marks, like he’s thinking aloud with the needle on the plate. Look closely, and you’ll see how much of the image is actually empty space. Cameron lets the white of the paper do a lot of the work, suggesting forms and textures with just a few well-placed strokes. In the area around the windows, for example, the light seems to pour in, illuminating the tools and objects scattered around the room. The texture of the print gives the scene a kind of gritty realism, like you could reach out and touch the sawdust on the floor. It reminds me a little of Piranesi, with that same love of architectural detail and atmospheric perspective. But where Piranesi’s spaces are grand and imposing, Cameron’s workshop feels intimate, a space for quiet contemplation and creative work. It’s a reminder that art is always a conversation, a back-and-forth between the artist, the materials, and the world around them.