En vej 1935

Henry Nielsen made this small etching, En vej, at some point in the early twentieth century. The image is built from a network of fine lines, pulled together to describe a road receding into the distance. The road, with its wheel tracks, dominates the composition. It’s a dance of diagonals, a real feat of perspective done with what appears to be pure line. The sky is rendered with the same marks as the road, but shorter, closer together, to create a sense of looming atmosphere. The whole thing feels immediate, like a sketch made on the spot. I am really drawn to the way he’s used the etching needle to create a sense of depth and texture. The marks aren’t just descriptive; they’re expressive, capturing the feeling of a cold, overcast day. Looking at this piece makes me think of other printmakers, like Whistler, who were able to do so much with such limited means. It’s a reminder that art is as much about process and vision as it is about the final product.