Michelangelo 1964

This is Thomas Browne Cornell’s etching of Michelangelo, made sometime in the 20th century, and it is all about line. It's like he's trying to capture the weight of thought etched on Michelangelo's face. Look at how the lines create shadows, especially around the eyes and beard. It’s as if Cornell is building form and emotion with each stroke, embracing a process of layering and revealing. I’m really drawn to the raw texture achieved through the etching. The fine lines feel almost frantic, but they build to something solid, a face that seems both vulnerable and imposing. I keep thinking about other artists who’ve tried to capture the weight of genius, like Lucian Freud, who wasn't afraid to let the process show. Ultimately, art is about this conversation across time, each artist wrestling with how to make the invisible visible. It's less about a definitive answer and more about embracing the questions.