Notre Dame, Poictiers 1912

Frank Brangwyn made this etching, Notre Dame, Poictiers, and it looks like he was really into the nitty-gritty of the scene. What strikes me about this print is the bustling life at the base of this building. It is contrasted with this weighty building with a great sense of care for how the light falls across the stone. You can see the marks made by the etching tool which capture these gritty details. It really brings the whole scene to life. Look closely, and you'll see how the lines build up to create shadows and depth. It's a dance of light and dark. And then, you've got this flurry of activity at the bottom, a market scene, full of energy and movement. It feels almost medieval. It's like he's trying to capture not just what the building looks like, but the whole vibe of the place. Brangwyn reminds me a little bit of Piranesi, who also loved to depict these grand architectural spaces with lots of busy little people scurrying about. It makes you wonder about the stories hidden in the stones and the everyday lives that unfold around them.