Le Livre Des Morts Des Anciens Egyptiens 1948

Anton Prinner, somewhere in time, made this black and white print with what looks like great care and attention to detail. The way he builds up the image from what feels like tiny dots or short strokes is almost mesmerizing. I like to think about what he was thinking about, using this method. The texture of the paper and the subtle gradations of light and dark create a haunting mood. Look closely at the eagle’s feathers, each one meticulously rendered, and how they contrast with the smoother, ghostly form of the body beneath. The way the eagle hovers protectively, its claws reaching down, gives the image a sense of drama and vulnerability. Prinner makes me think of someone like Kiki Smith, especially her prints, with their preoccupation with the body, death, and rebirth. Art is always a conversation with the past, a way of grappling with the big questions.