Rooftops in the Swiss village Ollon, canton Vaud, Switzerland 1981

Editor: We're looking at "Rooftops in the Swiss village Ollon, canton Vaud, Switzerland," an etching by Hubertine Heijermans from 1981. It's a very graphic print, almost photographic in its detail despite the limited tonal range. It feels still, wintry somehow. What grabs you about this piece? Curator: You know, it's funny, it whispers to me of solitude, yet there’s such cozy domesticity nestled into those rooftops. Hubertine… such a sensitive soul! I imagine her sketching on a biting day, capturing that moment of serene hush. The rooftops weighted with snow… They seem like hushed secrets shared between buildings, a silent conversation happening just beyond our grasp. It is amazing to me how a scene can convey so much with limited colour and light. What stories do you imagine dwelling in those darkened windows? Editor: It’s interesting that you see a ‘serene hush’ while I’m drawn to those dark windows. I keep wondering about the life going on behind them. How does the medium, the etching itself, contribute to that feeling? Curator: Ah, yes, the *etching*. The lines themselves have a kind of frantic energy – they dance, they scatter, mirroring the chaotic beauty of the village rooftops. And yet, as a whole, there's a certain stillness... paradox! Think about how light delicately rests on the snowy eaves, while only the stark black marks outline their existence. So intimate. The etching doesn’t aim for realistic details but allows you to dream. I imagine Heijermans trying to touch something deep within herself while finding the lines and shapes, and asking how one lives well in an often lonely world. Editor: I never considered that duality. Seeing it as frantic and still all at once makes me appreciate it so much more. Curator: And for me, hearing your take about those hidden lives makes it even more…alive. Thank you for the conversation!