Moonlight Street, Pont-de-l'Arche 1908

Clarence Gagnon made this print of a street in Pont-de-l'Arche, and what strikes me is the artist's wonderful approach to mark making. The lines are so alive! You can almost feel the scratch of the tool as it dances across the plate. The inky blacks contrast with stark whites, conjuring the mystery of a moonlit night. Look closely at the way the lines build up in layers, creating depth and shadow. See how the façade shimmers with an ethereal glow. The textures are palpable; you can almost feel the rough stone and weathered wood. The little windows appear like eyes, peering out from another world. Gagnon’s contemporary Whistler comes to mind, especially his etchings of Venice. Like Whistler, Gagnon invites us to lose ourselves in the atmosphere, and find poetry in the everyday. Ultimately, this print reminds us that art is an ongoing conversation, with each artist adding their unique voice to the chorus.