Brouwersgracht, Amsterdam before 1938

W. Ottema created this print of Brouwersgracht in Amsterdam using etching, a process that’s all about controlled mark-making. It's an image born from layering lines, scratching into the plate to build up a world. The texture here is fascinating. The artist uses line to suggest the surface of things. Look at the reflections in the water, the light on the brickwork, the way the sky is rendered using tight hatching. It’s all created with tiny, intentional marks. Each line feels like a decision, a thought made visible. See how the dark, velvety shadows of the bridge contrast with the lighter, airier sky? This piece is a study in contrasts, and a study in how much you can say with so little. It reminds me a little of Piranesi, an artist who made prints of buildings and architectural spaces in Rome in the 1700's. Both artists leave us with a feeling, a sense of place. It's not just about what is depicted, but how it’s depicted.