Ruelle des Halles, Vannes, Brittany 1906

Donald Shaw MacLaughlan made this etching of a street in Brittany, France, with ink on a metal plate. The architecture is striking, looming over the figures below with a heavy, shadowy presence. I imagine MacLaughlan, squinting in the bright sunlight, capturing the essence of this busy market street. There's a real sense of depth and texture here—see how the ink creates a rich, velvety darkness in the shadows and a gritty kind of reality? I can imagine him scratching away at the plate, building up the image bit by bit, almost like a sculptor working in reverse. The way he’s handled the light is incredible, creating a palpable atmosphere of a bustling marketplace under the looming buildings. MacLaughlan was part of a whole community of printmakers, constantly pushing the boundaries of what you could do with ink and metal. The conversations they had must have been incredible! Ultimately, this print reminds me that art is just one big conversation, rippling through time.