Lighthouse, Saint-Tropez (Le Phare de Saint-Tropez) 1930

Andre Dunoyer de Segonzac made this etching of the Lighthouse, Saint-Tropez with a simple, economic use of line, like he’s thinking on paper, just letting it flow. There's a kind of freedom in the way he approaches the subject, not labored over, but captured in a moment. Looking at the way he's used the etching needle to suggest the texture of the water, or the rough hewn stone of the lighthouse itself, you can see how the physicality of the medium really contributes to the feeling of the place. It reminds me a bit of some of Matisse’s line drawings, where he's able to capture so much with so little. The way Segonzac uses hatching to create shadows and volume, especially around the base of the lighthouse, gives the whole scene a sense of depth and atmosphere. It's as if you can feel the sun beating down on the harbor. Ultimately, this piece is about capturing a feeling, a mood, a moment in time. It reminds us that art is an ongoing conversation, and that each artist brings their unique voice and perspective to the table.