Kerr Eby, born Tokyo, Japan 1889-died - The Old House - 1916 - T-Shirt

Kerr Eby's 1916 drypoint etching The Old House turns a weathered two-storey dwelling into a quiet study of time and continuity.

Visual Elements & Composition

The image is built in soft off-white, sepia grey and charcoal, with pale cream and warm grey carrying the midtones. The wooden house with its shingled roof and balcony railing fills the centre of the frame, while a large leafy tree spreads across one side. A tall ladder leans against the façade on a strong diagonal, and a fence and gate anchor the lower edge. A man carrying long planks over his shoulder adds a small human presence. A rectangular plate border frames the whole scene.

Meaning & Symbolism

The aging house stands for long occupancy and the stories held in timber and stone. Its visible wear, set against the living tree and the figure at work, speaks to the continuity of domestic life against the slow erosion of history and nature. Eby, an American artist born in Tokyo, was known for his command of etching, and this 1916 work comes from his early career, before his later documentation of wartime experiences. It shows his precision with the built environment and the everyday lives around it.

Made for the Everyday Wearer

An etching like this rewards a close look, and a tee keeps it at arm's length from the eye, moving with you through the day. The house, tree and ladder sit where the eye naturally travels across the chest and shoulders, so the composition reads clearly as you move. The quiet, contemplative tone of the scene suits a shirt worn for ordinary days.