Long Shore Hauling 1935

Syd J. Browne made this print, Long Shore Hauling, using etching. Look at the web of fine lines he’s built up, like a spider’s silk, creating the buildings in the background. It’s like the image is being slowly constructed, line by line. There’s an intimacy here, in the way he patiently renders each detail. I mean, those horses! You can almost feel the weight of the wagon. The way he uses hatching and cross-hatching gives everything a kind of depth, a texture you want to reach out and touch. Notice the darkest areas in the shadows under the wagon; it's a real contrast against the highlights on the horses’ backs. This reminds me of the prints of Whistler. Both artists share a fascination with the gritty details of urban life. But where Whistler is all dreamy atmosphere, Browne feels a bit more grounded. It's a dance of mark-making, a conversation between the artist, the plate, and the world he’s observing. It's that openness that makes art endlessly fascinating, right?