Approach to the Bridge, No. 3 1931

John Marin made this etching called, "Approach to the Bridge, No. 3," in 1931. It looks like he was using acid to bite into a metal plate to create these thin, scratchy lines; a process he seems to have really enjoyed. There's something so energetic about the way he's captured the Brooklyn Bridge. It’s like he’s trying to wrangle the feeling of the city, that buzzy, chaotic energy, into a manageable form. Look at how the lines aren't exactly perfect; they quiver and shake, giving the bridge a sense of movement, like it's dancing or vibrating in the city air. And the perspective? It's all wonky and tilted, which makes the whole scene feel alive, not static. Marin's work reminds me a little of the Futurists, who were all about speed and dynamism. But Marin adds this American sensibility, this raw, almost awkward charm, that's all his own. He shows how a work of art can be an invitation to see the world in unexpected ways.