Landscape XXXIII 1998

Evan Summer made this etching, Landscape XXXIII, with ink on paper. The lines are so precise, so controlled, that it almost feels architectural, like a blueprint gone wild. But then you notice the textures, the way he builds up these tiny marks to create depth and shadow. You can feel the process, the labor involved, the artist’s hand pushing and pulling the medium. The contrast between the stark geometric forms and the organic, almost chaotic, textures is fascinating. Look at the lower left corner, the way those concrete slabs are angled, jutting out into the space. And then just above, see how the etched lines mimic the way light and shadow falls on the slabs, adding depth to a flat surface. It’s a dance between order and chaos, control and spontaneity. Summer reminds me a bit of Piranesi, that master of architectural fantasy. But where Piranesi’s spaces are grand and imposing, Summer’s are more intimate, more personal. It’s like he’s inviting you into a secret world, a hidden landscape of the mind.