On the Shore c. 1929

Rolf Nesch made this intaglio print, "On the Shore," using etching and aquatint. It's got this moody, monochrome vibe, a study in blacks, greys, and whites, with a real emphasis on the process. The texture feels almost tactile, like you could run your fingers over the surface and feel the bite of the acid on the plate. The female figure is monumental, her body a solid, dark mass against the hazy background. See how the lines around her become lighter, more delicate? There's a vulnerability there, despite her size. And then you've got these other figures, smaller, more ambiguous, almost floating in the distance. Nesch's print reminds me of Paula Modersohn-Becker, another artist grappling with the female form and the weight of existence. It's a conversation across time, an echo of shared struggles and triumphs. Ultimately, it's a reminder that art is never really finished, always open to interpretation.