River (La Riviere) 1930

Andre Dunoyer de Segonzac made this atmospheric print of a river and some bare trees with ink on paper, using a drypoint technique. I can imagine him outside standing in the cold, etching the metal plate with his needle, wiping it and re-inking to see what he can pull from the landscape. There's something so raw and immediate about how the lines capture the stillness of the landscape and that precise moment of observation. I'm immediately drawn to the bold, confident strokes that define the trees and the water's edge. See how the lines get denser in certain areas, creating shadows and depth, while other areas remain sparse and open, suggesting light and air. It reminds me of other landscape artists like Van Gogh, who used expressive mark-making to convey emotion and experience, but there's a certain austerity and stillness that is characteristic of Dunoyer's style. He really invites us to contemplate the quiet beauty of the natural world. Isn't it amazing how a single gesture can communicate so much? I’m thinking we artists are always looking at each other, and pushing each other on!