River Song, No. 8 1918

Donald Shaw MacLaughlan made this etching, River Song, No. 8, using what looks like a pretty limited palette of blacks and whites, and it's amazing what he achieves through mark-making. There's a quietness to the scene, which is full of detail. Look at the way the light falls on the boat, how it creates a feeling of texture through the contrasting dark lines and white space. It gives this object a real presence. The reflections on the water are really carefully observed; the hatching marks create a sense of depth and movement. There's also a great sense of contrast between the density of the leaves on the trees, and the open water. MacLaughlan reminds me of Whistler, who also used etching to create images with atmosphere and mood. But while Whistler was often interested in urban scenes, MacLaughlan seems drawn to more natural subjects. Ultimately, art isn't about fixed meanings, it's a space of exchange where different voices can come together and talk to each other.