Obscure Turning, Venice c. 1914

Clifford Addams made this etching, Obscure Turning, Venice, sometime between the late 19th and early 20th century. I wonder what Addams was thinking while making this? Maybe, how can I capture this feeling of Venice in a fleeting moment? The scene wavers and flickers before our eyes in a haze of lines and shadows. Notice the architecture, doorways, windows, and the figures within, all rendered with the same delicate, almost hesitant touch. It is like he is not just depicting Venice, but also capturing its atmosphere. This recalls Whistler’s etchings of the same city. The way he captured the misty light, the sense of quietude, and the poetics of decay. Addams seemed to be in conversation with Whistler, and other artists, thinking about the language of etching and what it can express. It feels like we are eavesdropping on an intimate moment, catching a glimpse of Venice through the eyes of an artist deeply attuned to its mysteries.