Black Apes 1991

This photogravure, "Black Apes," by Arsen Savadov employs a printmaking technique that merges photography and engraving. The tonal qualities achieved through photogravure are quite remarkable, lending the image a unique depth and texture not typically found in straightforward photography. Savadov masterfully adapts an industrial technique—photogravure—historically used for mass reproduction to create a single, evocative artwork. By layering photographic imagery with the meticulous labor of engraving, Savadov imbues the print with a handmade quality that contrasts sharply with the mechanical nature of its production. This tension between the handmade and the mass-produced encourages a re-evaluation of how we perceive value in art, and how much work goes into the production process. Ultimately, the convergence of photography and engraving encourages us to consider the social and economic implications embedded within the work's materiality and process.