(Bridge and tower)

Edward H. Del'Orme

Though Edward H. Del’Orme never gained the notoriety of his peers in the woodengraving world, having come upon the medium late in its commercial popularity, his work is evidence of a budding master, coaxing from the rigid block the dynamic range of a watercolor or sumi ink drawing. This small window onto a European canal is a fine example of the textures a woodengraver is able to manipulate from wood using the special tools given them.

A soft sky, denoted by the faintest and most delicate grid pattern, is reflected in the calm waters of a canal. Between sky and water run the jagged silhouettes of a church tower, a stone bridge, and a line of structures built at angles to accommodate small, winding streets. Breaking the repetition of civilization’s monuments reflected in the water’s surface are three small rowboats, linked together like schoolchildren holding hands, adding a tenderness to the stately image.