Fernande with Arms Crossed, Small Plate (Fernande les mains croisees (petite planche) 1923

Andre Dunoyer de Segonzac made this etching, “Fernande with Arms Crossed, Small Plate,” using the printmaking technique of drypoint. I can imagine Segonzac hunched over the plate, his hand guiding the etching needle, each stroke a commitment, digging into the copper. The cross-hatched lines describing her face give her a moody, melancholy feel, but the quick scribbles describing the landscape surrounding her seem more carefree. The etching is printed in a warm, sepia tone, which only adds to the nostalgic feeling. Is she waiting for someone? What is she thinking about? I love how the simple lines create a powerful image, reminding me of other artists who have used line work to express emotion, like Käthe Kollwitz. In the end, art is always about finding the emotional truth in mark-making.