Dimensions: plate: 12.7 x 8.6 cm (5 x 3 3/8 in.) sheet: 20.6 x 14 cm (8 1/8 x 5 1/2 in.)
Copyright: National Gallery of Art: CC0 1.0
Elizabeth O'Neill Verner made this etching, Bit of Legare Street, which is all about process, because you can see the hand of the artist in every line and shadow. It’s a real dance between control and accident, isn’t it? I’m drawn to the way Verner uses line to create depth and texture. The lines feel so alive! Like the squiggles around the figure by the gate which build up a sense of form, and the way she captures the light filtering through the trees, almost like a memory. It’s like she’s inviting us to wander through a dream. Look at the tree in the foreground. The trunk and branches are so carefully rendered with a real sense of volume, but elsewhere, like in the background buildings, the lines are fainter and more delicate, almost disappearing into the shadows. This isn’t just a picture of a street; it’s a feeling, a mood, an atmosphere. It reminds me a little of Whistler's etchings, in the way she transforms the ordinary into something poetic and timeless. Art isn't just about what you see; it's about how you see it.
Be the first to comment and join the conversation on the ultimate creative platform.