From Florence 1913

Hans Meid made this print in 1913, it’s titled From Florence. The whole thing is built up from these tiny little etched lines, like a nervous energy buzzing all over the plate. It’s like he’s trying to capture not just what he sees, but how it feels to be there, in that moment. The etching is all about the surface: a physical space, a moment, and the artist's gesture. Look at the way he renders the figures on the balcony versus those entering the building below, they feel so immediate. You can almost sense the scratch of the needle on the plate, the resistance, the way the ink clings to the lines. There’s this amazing dance between control and accident, and that’s what makes it so alive. This work reminds me of some of the etchings of James Ensor, that similar feeling for rendering the everyday with an awkward, energetic intensity. Ultimately, art is about having a conversation, borrowing ideas, and pushing things forward. It's not about answers, it's about questions.