F. Leith Ross met de juffrouw 1872 - 1950

This etching by Barbara Elisabeth van Houten, called 'F. Leith Ross met de juffrouw' is full of scratchy, dark marks and I can only imagine the concentration and physical effort it took to create. I really get a sense of what it might have been like to be Van Houten, bent over a plate, scratching away at it, building up the image bit by bit. The little marks almost vibrate, like the air on a hot day. Look at the way she's built up the shadows under the chair and around the table. It's almost like the figures are emerging from a dark, mysterious ground. I think she was influenced by Rembrandt and other Dutch Masters, they have that same feeling for light and shadow, you know? It's as if they're conjuring something out of nothing. Painters, etchers, we're all in this big conversation. And when I see a piece like this, I feel like she’s whispering to me across time, inviting me to join in.