Havengezicht in Rotterdam 1917

This is an etching of a harbour scene in Rotterdam by Johan Hendrik van Mastenbroek. Looking at this, I think about how a printmaker coaxes an image out of a plate, wiping away the excess ink to reveal the image underneath. I imagine Van Mastenbroek standing there, observing, making marks of the people milling about. What was it like to capture that light? The reflections on the wet ground. The muted tones almost feel like a memory, evoking a melancholic atmosphere. The artist's hand is evident in the network of lines, building up the image bit by bit. Notice the contrast between the darker, more defined foreground, and the hazy, atmospheric background. Printmaking reminds us that artists are always in conversation. Each artwork adds a layer to our understanding, and inspires new ways of seeing the world.