River (La Riviere) 1930

André Dunoyer de Segonzac made this print, called "River," using etching, a process that involves drawing into a metal plate with acid. It’s all about the line here, hatching and cross-hatching that almost feels like handwriting, like a diary entry of a landscape. Look at how he builds the scene with such minimal means! The texture of the foliage is created with these tiny, frantic marks, and the trunks of the trees are solid blocks of deep blacks. There's a real sense of movement. See how the lines curve and bend, suggesting the flow of water and the rustle of leaves. The way the trees lean in, it gives you the feeling of being enveloped by nature. I’m reminded of a Cy Twombly drawing, where the subject isn’t as important as the gesture. This feels similarly intuitive, capturing not just the look of the river but the feeling of being there, immersed in its quiet energy. Art is a conversation and Segonzac seems to be having a real dialogue with nature, and inviting us to listen in.