Blooming Mill—Sheffield Steel of Texas 1945

This image is a plate by Jackson Lee Nesbitt, and it really pulls you into the heart of industry. The entire work is rendered in shades of gray, and it's incredible to think about the artist patiently building up the image with so many tiny etched marks. What I find fascinating is the textural contrast. The surfaces have a gritty, almost sandpaper-like feel, and then the bright plume of smoke rises upwards, looking soft and ethereal. Look how Nesbitt uses line to create a sense of depth and space, like the lines of the floor receding into the distance. It’s kind of an optical illusion, creating a massive sense of scale in what is actually a relatively small image. Nesbitt’s vision feels connected to that of the German artist, Otto Dix, who portrayed the industrial landscape and working classes with such unflinching honesty. This image is not just a depiction of labor; it’s a meditation on the industrial age and its impact on the human spirit.