The Garden Wall 1927

Levon West made this etching, 'The Garden Wall', in 1927. There's such an impressive use of light and shadow here. It reminds me that every mark, every stroke, is a decision, a step in a long, beautiful dance. Look at the rugged mountains in the foreground; the etched lines are so dense, almost velvety. Then, your eye wanders to the ethereal glow of the sky above, achieved through the barest whisper of marks. It's a masterclass in how texture and tone can create a sense of depth and atmosphere. Notice the way the light seems to catch the peaks of the distant, jagged wall in the center of the composition. It's like a whispered secret, a fleeting moment captured in ink. West's work reminds me of Whistler's nocturnes, where mood and atmosphere take precedence over detail. But where Whistler is all about the haze, West is interested in the drama of the landscape. Ultimately, it's the space in between that sings—inviting us to fill it with our own stories, our own dreams.