Pescatore di Grado [A Fisherman of Grado] c. 1913

Edoardo Del Neri made this etching, A Fisherman of Grado, using the etching technique. It’s all about lines, isn't it? Tiny, precise marks build up the form and texture, like the crinkles around his unseen eyes, suggesting wisdom, toil, or maybe just a good story. The limited tonal range—sepia on cream—adds to the feeling that this could be a vintage photograph. Look at the way the light catches the brim of his cap. You can almost feel the grizzled texture of his beard. It’s this tactile quality that grabs me. That shadow cutting across his face, obscuring his eye, is so loaded. Is he hiding something, or has life just left its mark? Del Neri has managed to let ambiguity sit right at the heart of this piece. I’m reminded of Whistler, another printmaker who knew how to make a mood out of almost nothing. With both artists it's less about what you see, and more about what you feel.