Chimney Pots (Brittany) 1931

Grace Albee made this detailed etching called 'Chimney Pots' sometime during her time in Brittany. I can imagine her leaning in, so close, squinting at the scene, and drawing tiny marks that accumulate to create deep, velvety blacks and grays. You can almost feel the weight of those chimney pots stacked up high. It's not just a picture of a place, it’s like Albee is trying to translate something about the nature of home, of human presence, into ink. Look at how she builds up the tones, layering lines so delicately. The etching feels incredibly solid. She really understood how to work with that plate, coaxing out light and shadow with such precision. It makes you wonder about all the unseen labor, the hours of careful work, and the little intimate connections we forge with places. Artists are always in dialogue, responding to what came before, pushing things forward. Albee, with her patient process, reminds us to slow down and consider the world, one tiny mark at a time.