Brooklyn Bridge (Mosaic) 1913

John Marin made this etching of the Brooklyn Bridge at some point in his career. It's like he's trying to capture the sensation of the city, not just its appearance. The thing that really grabs me is the frenetic energy of his lines. They're scratchy and raw, like he's attacking the plate, and this makes you feel like the bridge is almost vibrating with life, like it’s about to burst apart. Look at those sketchy marks around the edges, they’re like a visual echo. The process is right there on the surface, nothing is hidden. You can see how he dug into the metal, how he layered the lines to create depth. It’s like looking at the bones of the bridge, its structural essence. It feels like Marin’s letting us in on his secret, that art is really just about being present and open to the chaos of experience. His approach reminds me a little bit of some of the futurists, always looking to represent speed, change, and the dynamism of modern life. Ultimately, this piece is about possibilities, more than certainties.