Le Puits 1897

David Young Cameron made this etching, titled 'Le Puits', in the late 19th or early 20th century, at a time when printmaking was experiencing a revival as an original art form. Cameron, as a Scottish artist, often depicted architectural subjects and landscapes. This piece gives us a glimpse into a rustic scene with an imposing figure who seems to be a monk. The figure's presence in this intimate domestic space prompts us to consider themes of faith and the everyday. The composition draws your eye into the shadowed doorway, as the figure creates a focal point that holds both serenity and a quiet tension. Cameron’s expert use of the etching technique allows the shadows to create depth, while the delicate lines give a sense of texture to the stone, wood, and fabric within the scene. In a way, it invites us to contemplate the intersections of religious life and the common routines of the past.