Belfry Steps 1935

Here's Robert Austin's etching, Belfry Steps. It’s all in shades of warm grey. I love how Austin uses line to capture light and shadow as his figure edges down the winding staircase. I’m imagining Austin at his plate, carefully scoring lines into the copper, wiping the plate with ink, and then pressing the paper onto the plate, pulling the print to see what he's got, probably making adjustments. Look at how the stone steps turn in a spiral. The woman cautiously navigates them, gripping the wall. She almost looks trapped. I wonder what she's thinking? But despite the potential claustrophobia, there's a great sense of calm. The lines are so precise and still, like a drawing by Durer. It's this quietness that speaks to me. Etching can be like that, a slow meditation. Austin’s image reminds us of the conversations between artists, of art history, each influencing the other, and the viewer too. It asks us to keep looking and thinking.