Men and Beasts II 1965

Rudy Pozzatti made this print, Men and Beasts II, in 1965, probably using an etching technique. The textured blacks and greys give it such a tactile feel, almost like you could reach out and feel the grit and grain of the metal plate itself. You know, artmaking is really about process, about messing around and seeing what happens when you let the materials speak. Look at the way the images are presented like rubbings from ancient coins. The contrast between light and shadow really defines the forms and gives them weight. I love how the rough edges of the print contrast with the refined portraits; it's almost like history is crumbling right before your eyes. It reminds me a little of some of the work of Piranesi, with that same sense of decay and grandeur all mixed together. Ultimately, art is about conversation; it's about artists borrowing, stealing, and riffing off each other across time. And it's never about one right answer, but about embracing the questions.