Cathedral 1958

Gabor Peterdi made this Cathedral with, I imagine, a tiny nib, some acid, and a metal plate. Look at that etched surface—I bet it took him a long time to make it! What do you think he was thinking about? Maybe he was walking in a forest and then he thought about God? I love how the details emerge from darkness, like staring at clouds and figuring out what they might be. It’s like the cathedral is built from the energy of mark-making itself. The marks make the place! Peterdi was clearly in conversation with other painters, like Max Ernst. It's like all artists are talking to each other, even across time! Ultimately, painting is an ongoing conversation, embracing ambiguity and inviting multiple readings. There isn't one right answer, or interpretation, but that’s okay.