Mudejar Doors, Seville 1925

Louis Conrad Rosenberg made this etching of the Mudejar Doors in Seville, and what grabs me first is the layering of marks; thin, etched lines describe the architectural space, and the overall process feels very open, like a question. Look at the surface, how it’s built up from many tiny lines, almost like it’s breathing. The texture of the stone is palpable, and the way the light catches on the steps is so subtly done, with just the slightest variations in tone. I like how the artist uses the language of etching to convey the weight and solidity of the architecture, but also suggests an impermanence through the fragile lines. The archway is so detailed, you can almost feel the carvings, and they create a dark frame for the figures inside. It reminds me a bit of Piranesi, maybe, but with a gentler touch, like he is speaking quietly to you. Art is an ongoing conversation and Rosenberg has his own distinct voice.