Spitalplatz, Strasburg

Herman Armour Webster

1878–1970

Spitalplatz, Strasburg, before 1914

Where object was made: Austria

Material/technique: etching; laid paper

Dimensions:
Image Dimensions Height/Width (Height x Width): 180 x 207 mm
Image Dimensions Height/Width (Height x Width): 7 1/16 x 8 1/8 in
Sheet/Paper Dimensions (Height x Width): 285 x 225 mm
Sheet/Paper Dimensions (Height x Width): 11 1/4 x 8 7/8 in
Mat Dimensions (Height x Width): 14 x 19 in

Credit line: Gift of Hal M. Davison, Class of 1949

Accession number: 1998.0627

Not on display

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Label texts

Exhibition Label:
"American Etchers Abroad, 1880-1939," Apr-2004, Reed Anderson
An inveterate traveler, Herman Armour Webster was attracted to the remains of old-world architecture in picturesque villages throughout France, Germany, and Italy. Many of his etchings, like "Rue de la Parcheminerie" are treasured because they record some nook or
corner of a city that no longer exists. Although this street, located near the Seine on the left bank of Paris, still remains, it has been completely transformed since Webster’s time. In this etching and "Spitalplatz, Strasburg" Webster lavished special attention on the architectural details of the buildings. Like his mentor Charles Meryon, he demonstrated a concern for the play of light and shadow. Webster also showed his mastery of representing people interacting in their environment. With a few well-placed strokes of the needle, he bestowed upon them a strong sense of character, as seen in the group of women talking in "Rue de la Parcheminerie" and the woman leading a child by the hand in "Spitalplatz, Strasburg.