Store Kannikestræde 1914

Adolph Larsen made this black and white etching of Store Kannikestræde sometime in his life. The marks here are just so gentle; look at the way he’s built up the image with what looks like tiny, tiny strokes. It’s a slow, careful way of working that really makes you appreciate the process itself. I’m really drawn to the cobblestone street. Each stone seems to have been rendered with a different pressure, a different density of marks. It's almost like Larsen is trying to capture the unique texture of each stone, as well as the wear and tear of time. It’s a great example of how the physical act of making art—the pressure of the tool, the rhythm of the hand—can become as meaningful as the subject itself. This reminds me a bit of Piranesi's architectural prints. There's a similar interest in capturing the atmosphere and texture of a place through careful, detailed mark-making. Art is always a conversation, right?