Brueghelscape #1 1964

Peter Milton made this etching, Brueghelscape #1, at some point, using a metal plate and acid. Etchings like this are all about process, right? You don't just draw an image; you have to think about how each mark will translate through the acid, the plate, the press. Looking at this print, the way the light seems to dissolve the forms, I'm reminded of how much texture you can get with such a limited palette. Each tiny etched line builds up to create these incredible, granular surfaces. If you look closely at the bare trees, you can see how Milton used dense, intricate lines to create the feeling of depth and shadow. It’s almost like he’s building up the image cell by cell. Milton's work feels very connected to artists like Piranesi, who also used etching to create these vast, intricate imaginary spaces. Like those artists, he reminds us that art isn't about capturing a fixed reality but creating spaces for endless exploration and interpretation.