Untitled 1967

This is an untitled print made by Liliana Gramberg, likely in 1967, the date which appears on the lower right corner of the image. Its stark appearance stems from the method used to make it - etching, where lines are incised into a metal plate using acid, which then holds ink to make a print. Consider the labor involved. Each line was deliberately inscribed, creating a dense field of marks. Then, layer upon layer of ink was likely applied to build this image. The texture of the plate itself becomes part of the image, a testament to Gramberg’s skill in manipulating the etching process. What are we to make of this field of inscription? Is it a kind of record-keeping, or perhaps a personal language? Whatever the case, the power of this work lies in its combination of precise technique and enigmatic imagery. It reminds us that even within the realm of printmaking, craft and fine art can merge into something unique and powerful.