Beach Landing c. 1940s

Donald Vogel made this etching, "Beach Landing," sometime in the mid-20th century. Look at the surface, it’s a dense network of etched lines, tightly packed together. What strikes me most is how Vogel uses these lines to create a sense of depth and chaos. The eye jumps from the ship in the foreground, teetering and overflowing with figures, to the landscape beyond, equally chaotic with its geometric buildings. The whole scene feels precarious. I find my eyes drawn to the figures emerging from the ship. They're rendered with simple, almost cartoonish lines, yet they carry a weight of humanity. It makes me think of other artists like Otto Dix and how they used distortion and exaggeration to convey the psychological impact of war. Vogel's work isn't as overtly grotesque, but there's a similar sense of unease. Ultimately, what makes this print so compelling is how it embraces ambiguity. It's a beach landing, yes, but it's also a metaphor for the disruptions and uncertainties of life.