Quai Vert, Bruges 1924

John Taylor Arms made this etching called Quai Vert, Bruges, and it’s all about these tiny, controlled marks, right? Like he’s building this whole world with the tiniest of lines. You can almost feel him there, carefully laying down each one. Look at the way he captures the water reflecting the buildings. It’s not just a mirror image; it’s got this shimmering, liquid quality. It is so precise! And then notice the bridge – the way each stone is articulated with such care. It’s like he’s inviting us to slow down and really see the world, not just glance at it. You can almost feel the cool, damp air of the canal. There’s something about this level of detail that reminds me of Dürer. That obsessive quality, that need to capture every tiny thing. It's a whole conversation across time. And in the end, it’s up to us to bring our own meanings to it.