River Bank c. 1925

Edward Julius Detmold made this image, River Bank, as an etching, and you can see the incredible detail he coaxes from the etched line. It's a reminder that artmaking is a process of revealing, of making seen. The sepia-toned scene shimmers with light and reflection, capturing a moment of stillness. Look closely, and you'll see the textures conjured by the etching process. See that camel in the middle, its silhouette is built up of so many tiny, dark marks, it gives the impression of a rough, weathered hide. This mark-making really emphasizes the physical presence of these animals. The marks are allowed to just be themselves. The composition has an almost photographic quality to it, reminiscent of some of the early travel photography of the region. It also feels very similar to some of the etchings of animals by artists like Bracquemond. Detmold really invites us into a world seen through a very particular lens. There's a sense of ambiguity here, a sense of art as an open-ended conversation.