Rothenburg 1867 - 1910

Etha Fles created this print called 'Rothenburg' using etching to explore texture and form. The composition, dominated by a structure with a steeply pitched roof, immediately draws the eye upwards, emphasizing the height and solidity of the building. The detailed etching technique captures a rough, tactile quality, especially evident in the stonework and roof tiles. This texture contrasts with the smoother areas of the sky, creating depth and visual interest. Fles uses line to define the architectural details and to suggest the organic forms of the surrounding foliage, blurring the boundary between the built environment and nature. This interplay of geometric and organic elements invites a reading of the work through a semiotic lens, where the building might symbolize order while the encroaching plant life represents nature's reclamation. Fles' print challenges fixed meanings, encouraging us to reflect on the transient relationship between permanence and change. It shows us that buildings evolve over time, with nature playing its part.