Toy Department 1940

Helen Bruton made this print, Toy Department, with etching on paper. It's all about mark-making, creating something from nothing; a process that's deeply satisfying for us artists. Look at how she's built up the image with these tiny lines. It reminds me of Agnes Martin, or even Chuck Close. This is all about value and texture, isn't it? I can almost feel the weight of those stacks of books on the left, the paper is transformed into an illusion of form. The detail in the background is less defined, maybe suggesting an awareness of perception. Is everything we see equally sharp? What I love about art, especially a print like this, is how it invites you to look closer, to question, to feel something, even if you can't quite name it. And, well, isn't that what life is all about?