The Tannery 1901

Donald Shaw MacLaughlan made this etching, The Tannery, at an unknown date. It's an image of labor, of workers caught in the act of production, built up using hatching and cross-hatching to create shadows and depth. The monochromatic palette reinforces the industrial setting, grounding us in its muted reality. The etching's material aspect feels almost like a dance between the artist and the metal plate. MacLaughlan doesn’t try to hide the process; instead, he lays bare the workings, the tiny scratches and lines that collectively build the scene. Look at the upper-left corner, and you can see the raw, unpolished texture of the plate. The etched lines create a beautiful contrast with the lighter areas. MacLaughlan reminds me a little bit of Piranesi, with his interest in architecture and industry. His work invites us to consider not just the image, but how it was made, and what it means to represent a place as both beautiful and fraught with human activity.