Antique Shop c. 1916

Earl Horter made this etching called Antique Shop, and its all about lines, really. It’s like he's thinking through drawing, letting his hand and eye work together to find this place. I'm drawn to how scratchy and textural Horter makes the surface. Everything feels a bit unstable, like the building might just crumble. But it’s not just about decay, it’s more that the building looks like it is still in the process of being thought. Look at the columns on either side of the shop’s entrance, they are practically vibrating with energy. The etched lines are so dense, they almost seem to block our way in. That sign above the door could say almost anything, but the broken word "Antiques" implies this is not a place for precious objects, but rather somewhere where ideas of value are constantly shifting. Much like art itself!