Untitled (Autocar Company) c. 1925

Earl Horter created this etching, "Untitled (Autocar Company)," with striking contrasts and textures. The composition, dominated by the imposing architectural forms of the Autocar factory, is rendered in meticulous detail, drawing us into the urban landscape. Horter uses hatching and cross-hatching to define the buildings' structures. The repetition of windows creates a grid-like pattern, a nod to the modernist fascination with industrialization and mass production. The contrast between the light, reflective surfaces and the deep, shadowed areas enhances the three-dimensionality of the scene. The factory, with its strong vertical lines, signifies progress and power, yet the sky, filled with dense, chaotic lines, hints at the environmental implications of industrial growth. The vehicles lined up along the street emphasize the theme of mechanization and movement, underscoring the relationship between industry and society. Ultimately, it's the formal tensions between order and chaos that invite us to reflect on the complex, evolving nature of the modern world.