The Quarry 1915

This etching, titled 'The Quarry', was made by Henry Rushbury, likely sometime in the first half of the 20th century. The density of marks he uses is extraordinary. The image surface almost seems to vibrate with the accumulation of tiny lines. Rushbury really seems to be thinking through his process. Look at the way the lines define the rock face, almost like geological strata or the marks of tools. It's fascinating how he captures the texture and scale of the quarry through these insistent marks. The muted palette emphasizes the starkness of the industrial landscape, making it feel both monumental and desolate. My eye keeps going to the horses pulling the cart. The way Rushbury captures their energy with just a few etched lines is amazing. It reminds me a little of Piranesi, but more contained, more English somehow. Art is always echoing and building on what came before. Isn’t it amazing?