Bosrand 1892 - 1928

Johannes Löhr made this small etching called Bosrand, or "Edge of the Woods," pulling delicate lines out of a metal plate to give us a glimpse into a shaded copse. I like how Löhr’s marks hover between pure abstraction and realistic description. I can imagine Löhr outside, sketching, making notes, and trying to distill the essence of the place. He must have wanted to capture the feeling of being surrounded by nature, the quiet rustling of leaves, and the play of light filtering through the trees. The texture of the paper adds a tactile quality, as if you could reach out and feel the rough bark of the trees. Notice how the darker tones create depth and shadow, while the lighter areas suggest sunlight. In a way, Löhr is in conversation with other landscape artists, riffing on a theme, and adding his own voice to the chorus. I think artists keep the conversation going across time, inspiring each other to see the world in new ways.