Emerson, San Francisco c. 1915 - 1919

Willem Witsen made this etching, Emerson, San Francisco, sometime around the turn of the 20th century. The sepia tones and the fine lines create a sense of a memory, or a dream. You can see the process in the final piece, especially where Witsen has allowed the plate tone to remain. It’s interesting that an image can be both precise and suggestive at the same time! Witsen’s physical engagement with the copperplate really comes through; you can imagine him using the etching needle to scratch and scrape the surface. Just look at the archway on the left side, and the way the sign reading 'for sale' is etched with such delicate lines. I’m reminded of Piranesi, and his etchings of Roman ruins, but here the mood is quieter, more intimate. Art isn't about answers, but about endless ways of seeing.