Siena

Art Historical Context

Donald Shaw MacLaughlan'sSiena* (1905) is a delicate etching that evokes the timeless allure of the Italian hilltop city of Siena, renowned for its architecture and medieval piazzas. Created during the early 20th century, artists embraced printmaking to capture atmospheric European scenes, this intimate work measures just 11.5 × 8.2 cm, inviting visitors to lean in and savor its nuanced lines and subtle tones. The medium—etching in black ink on buff wove paper, laid down via chine collé onto cream wove paper—highlights MacLaughlan's mastery of intaglio techniques. Etching involves incising a copper plate with acid to create fine, expressive lines, while chine collé, a traditional method using thin Asian paper adhered during printing, lends a velvety texture and prevents fragility. This approach was prized in the etching revival for producing rich, editioned artworks accessible beyond paintings. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints and Drawings Department, *Siena* reflects MacLaughlan's affinity for Italy's historic landscapes, blending technical precision with poetic evocation. A gem for print enthusiasts, it underscores how early 1900s etchings democratized fine art, bridging personal sketchbooks and grand museums.

About the Artist

Donald Shaw MacLaughlan · 1876–1938

Donald Shaw MacLaughlan (1876–1938) was born on November 9 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, though he is recognized as an American artist after his family relocated to Boston, Massachusetts, in 1890. There, as a teenager, he immersed himself in the Boston Public Library's collections of old master prints, studying works by Albrecht Dürer, Rembrandt van Rijn, and eighteenth-century E...