By Chelsea Reed
Changes are a part of life as time marches forward. Many changes have turned the pages in the book of life’s art history. Etchings have played a major role in changing the art world as we know it. But if it’s tempting to think that etchings have come and gone like an old textbook, we are happy to inform you it’s time to challenge that. Let’s travel back in time to experience the excitement of Master etchings like you never thought of before. Old is new again!
Yes, this piece by James Whistler is an original through and through. The illusion of light and depth are unmistakably his signature style. It’s a prime example of etching at its finest. Whistler was one of the first American artists to influence art movements in the Old World. Michelangelo was his inspiration. The result? Big vision equals big outcomes.
You would never guess that this masterful etching was made by a self-taught artist! Sir Francis Hayden was actually a surgeon. He practiced in England in the 1800s. Hayden purchased many etchings at a secondhand shop to observe them. He loved to study art so much that he sparked an etching revival. He eventually married Whistler’s half-sister. Together, Hayden and Whistler collaborated on many etchings.
If you think this etching is only a boring collection of flowers, think again. It belonged to a publication that Emmanuel Sweert produced in 1612 with the encouragement of the Emperor of Hapsburg! Emmanuel was a Dutch nurseryman as well as an artist, who lived when exotic plants from all over the globe were introduced to the Old World. Imagine experiencing their new sights and scents for the first time. It must have been exciting for him!
About 150 years later, George Edwards produced his own natural history books that featured his accurate etchings of birds and wildlife. His great talents became known throughout Europe, and he is known as the “father of British ornithology” today. This etching of a black-bellied whistling duck is so accurate that it holds up to a modern photograph!
This etching by Louis Icart comes from a copy of the French erotica book, Felicia Ou Mes Fredaines. Considered the master of “Boudoir” art, Louis’s specialty focused on the female form’s beauty. His wife Fanny was a model for many of his pieces, and she marketed them when Louis fought as an infantryman in World War I.
This etching by Irving Amen feels so cozy that you’ll want to gather around the fireplace in your living room and play a song. We love the warmth and diversity in the scene, and it’s filled with the artist’s personality. Irving Amen was compassionate toward humanity and often expressed it in his art. It’s filled with hope that it’s possible to thrive together with our differences.
An aquatint etching, Ballet is a joyful piece made by Graciela Rodo Boulanger. The distinct round faces of the children are a clear giveaway of her playful style. Her work has been featured in museums all over the world, including The Met and the U.N. General Assembly. She resides in Paris, France, and continues to inspire the world today.
All of these Master etchings and more can be found at Seaside Art Gallery. Check them out now online, or experience their beauty for yourself at the Gallery while they’re still here!
It goes without saying that appreciating art is a heavily visual process. Bright colors can easily impact your mood, and bold contrasts catch your attention with a dramatic visual feast. But physical art can also impact your other senses, too.
Everyone loves a great view. Landscape paintings are an easy way to bring the joy of the outdoors inside. For this reason, people have utilized landscapes as a classic staple in decorating for hundreds of years.
Flowers are an abundant and easy source for decorating inspiration. That includes floral artwork, but what if you wanted to switch things up for the walls in your room?
