Salt Shanties c. 19th century

Charles Adams Platt created "Salt Shanties" using etching, a printmaking technique that gives this work its distinctive linear quality. Notice how the composition centres on the shanty, a structure raised on stilts, its form mirrored in the still water below. The artist's economy of line is striking; each stroke carefully placed to suggest texture and depth. The neutral palette further emphasizes the structural elements of the building and its reflection, creating a sense of serene stillness. Platt's technique reveals an interest in the formal qualities of line and tone. The etching process allowed him to explore the interplay between light and shadow, giving shape to the architectural form and the surrounding water. This interplay challenges the illusion of depth and flatness, inviting us to question the nature of representation itself. The overall effect highlights how formal decisions around line and composition can profoundly shape our perception of space and structure.