Herring Netting 1928

Philip Little’s etching, "Herring Netting," captures a scene of boats on calm water. It's so small, only a few inches, but it feels expansive. Imagine Little, bent over the plate, creating tiny marks to build the image. The whole scene emerges from a multitude of little lines, like a pointillist painting but with a dry needle! The contrast between the dark boats and their reflections and the soft sky gives it a feeling of peace. I imagine he wanted to capture not just the look of the scene but also the quiet of the moment. There’s something meditative in the way the boats are arranged. Little was part of a long line of artists interested in capturing the nuances of light and atmosphere. There's a connection to Whistler in the tonal quality, a shared interest in mood over detail. And, by the way, you can almost smell the sea! Each artist picks up the conversation where the last left off, adding their own perspective and mark.