Hôtel de Sens, plate three from the Paris Set 1904

This is David Young Cameron's "Hôtel de Sens, plate three from the Paris Set", an etching made in the late 19th or early 20th century. The lines are so delicate; it’s like he’s whispering secrets onto the paper. Look at the way he uses the etching needle to create a sense of depth and texture. Those fine lines that build up the shadows on the buildings feel almost like you could touch them. See the upper section of the print where there is a heavy build-up of hatching to create dark tones. It’s about layering, about building up these tiny marks to create something bigger. The whole thing is moody, like a photograph from another era. It’s a reminder that art isn’t just about capturing a scene; it’s about feeling it too. Cameron reminds me a little of Whistler, another etcher with a sharp eye and a taste for the atmospheric. Art is always about artists speaking to other artists across time; it’s one big conversation.