Tanjore Possibly 1914

Wijnand Otto Jan Nieuwenkamp made this etching called Tanjore, and looking at it, I can almost feel the sun beating down. See how the etched lines create a sense of depth, pulling you into the scene? I imagine Nieuwenkamp, squinting in the bright light, carefully rendering each step, each tree, trying to capture the essence of this place. It's like he's inviting us to climb those steps, to experience the ancient temple for ourselves. I love how the soft, brown ink gives everything a slightly dreamlike quality. The lines are so delicate and precise, yet there's a looseness too. It reminds me of Piranesi's architectural prints but with a warmer, more intimate feel. And that little figure at the top of the stairs – is it a god, a dancer, or just a figment of our imagination? We're all just trying to make sense of the world, one mark at a time.