Island in the Tiber, Rome 1921

Here’s ‘Island in the Tiber, Rome,’ an etching by Louis Conrad Rosenberg. It’s all about the lines, isn’t it? The way they build up, layer upon layer, creating this incredible depth. Rosenberg coaxes such detail from this scene using only a network of fine, precise lines, etching tiny marks into the metal plate. Look at the way he renders the water. It's not just flat, it ripples and reflects light. And then the buildings, the way he captures the texture of the stone, the crumbling edges. Each line feels deliberate, a testament to the labor and care that goes into printmaking. It reminds me of the obsessive mark making of Agnes Martin. You can see the hours of work, but also the artist's clear and abiding love for the city. It’s like Rosenberg's saying, "Here, look closely, see what I see." And in that seeing, we find our own connection to the place, to the artist, and to the history embedded in the image.