Stockton Church 1941

Daniel Garber made "Stockton Church" using etching, a process that’s all about controlled accidents and seeing what emerges. Look at how he’s built up a whole scene out of tiny lines, kind of like he's knitting or something. The surface has a wonderful texture, doesn’t it? It's almost velvety, a result of the way the ink sits on the paper after being bitten by acid. See those dark areas near the bottom? They’re not just shadows; they’re built up from so many tiny marks. They give weight to the scene, pulling you in. The church spire seems to float above it all, like a beacon. Garber was part of the Pennsylvania Impressionists, who were doing their thing a bit after the French guys. You can see that love of light and landscape here, but with an American twist, maybe a little more… grounded? It reminds me a little of Edward Hopper's prints. But ultimately this piece is all about embracing process, letting the marks speak, and finding beauty in the unexpected.