Shadows c. 1935 - 1943

Samuel L. Margolies created this print, titled "Shadows," using etching. It's all about the dance between light and dark, built from tiny, deliberate marks. Look at how Margolies uses line. The etching feels almost topographical. In the sky, those dense crosshatched lines form heavy clouds. Down below, the ground seems to sprout from the page, bristling with energy. And that telephone pole, smack in the middle, it’s not just standing there; it’s got a real presence. Etching lends itself to a kind of precision, but there’s also room for accident, a little wiggle in the line. It makes me think of artists like Whistler, who were also fascinated by the gritty beauty of the modern world. Ultimately, it’s a study of place, memory, and how we make sense of the world through marks.