The Walls of Siena 1923

Henry Rushbury made this print, “The Walls of Siena,” using a metal plate to create fine, dark lines on a light background. The cross hatching and mark making is so controlled, and that’s so key to printmaking as a process, isn’t it? What strikes me is the level of detail Rushbury achieves with these lines, especially on the imposing walls. Look at the way he’s built up the texture. The precision! It reminds me how mark making, whether in print or paint, is about control but also about letting the medium speak. It's like a conversation. Notice how the stark verticality of the Cypress trees breaks the horizontality of the architectural structure, and creates an amazing depth of field. Rushbury reminds me of Whistler, who also transformed the mundane into something ethereal through close observation and a sensitive touch. Art is just people talking to each other through time. It’s about opening up possibilities, not closing them down with easy answers.