Antibes, Southern France 1929

Grace Albee made this print, Antibes, Southern France, in 1929 with, I think, some kind of engraving tool. What hits me first are the sharp, almost frantic lines that build up to make the image. It’s like she’s constructing the scene from tiny, insistent marks, each one adding to the overall sense of place. The textures are amazing, especially in the shadows and the rough surfaces of the buildings. You can almost feel the sun beating down on the stone. Look at how she uses the hatching to create depth, pulling you into the archway and beyond. It's interesting to think about the way the physical act of cutting into the plate translates into this scene. Albee was clearly part of a long conversation with artists like Piranesi, who used line in a similar way to build these incredible architectural spaces. And like him, she leaves plenty of room for your eye to wander and find new details each time you look. It’s more like an invitation than a statement.