Promenade 1902

Edgar Chahine made this print, Promenade, and like many prints, there’s no date given. Isn’t that interesting? It's all lines and tones, a symphony in black and white, where the absence of colour pushes the focus onto texture and form. Look closely, and you’ll see how Chahine used line to create an image that’s both detailed and atmospheric. The woman’s dress, that elaborate confection, is rendered with such delicate hatching it practically shimmers. And notice the contrast with the solid blacks of the carriage. That interplay of light and dark, that dance of line, gives the image its energy. It’s a testament to the power of printmaking. For me, this piece calls to mind the works of Whistler, especially in its subtle tonal variations and emphasis on atmosphere. Like Whistler, Chahine invites us to see the beauty in the everyday.