Fiskere på havet 1903

This is Carl Locher’s “Fiskere pa havet”, a print made using etching. Look at how Locher makes marks to build up the image, almost like musical notation. It is all about process! There is such a strong sense of drama, isn’t there? The water looks so choppy, and the waves are almost threatening to swallow the boats. He uses closely packed, scratchy lines to depict the roiling sea, and then softer marks for the sky and clouds. It is all about texture. The varying weight of the lines gives depth and movement to the scene. Look at the little boat to the right, with the fishermen pulling their nets. See the oar sticking up from the waves, the way it balances and offsets the boat with the sail, there's almost a feeling of impending disaster. It reminds me of Whistler's etchings of the Thames. Both artists evoke such a sense of atmosphere with so few lines. It goes to show you, sometimes less really is more.