Chimney Pots (Brittany) 1931

Grace Albee made this print, *Chimney Pots (Brittany)*, using a black and white palette and a keen eye for architectural detail. The surface has this incredible tactile quality, even though it's just on paper. You can almost feel the rough texture of the stone walls and the slightly irregular surfaces of the roof tiles. The light flickers across the buildings in the picture, and the artist uses these really tiny, precise marks to build up areas of shade and highlight. Look at the wall in the foreground, to the right. See how each stone seems to have its own unique character, described by these tiny lines? The whole image is constructed through tiny repetitive mark making which creates this strong sense of atmosphere. The scene is a little reminiscent of some of Piranesi's architectural prints. Like Piranesi, Albee transforms the everyday into something monumental, full of mystery and intrigue. We get this glimpse into another world.