Venetian II 1910

This intaglio print titled 'Venetian II' was made by Hermann Struck sometime in the early twentieth century. I can only imagine the act of creating this piece, the scratches, the etching, the trial and error. I sympathize with Struck and picture him in his studio, meticulously working on the metal plate, building up the image bit by bit. The lines are so delicate yet convey such a strong sense of form and emotion. Notice the textures, the way he uses the density and direction of lines to suggest light and shadow? It’s like he's building up a whole world with just these tiny marks! There’s this sense of depth and space created by the layering of lines, and then the almost frantic strokes of the beard. It's a bit like Rembrandt, but with a touch all its own. You know, artists are always in conversation, borrowing and riffing off each other's ideas. This piece feels like Struck is participating in that ongoing exchange.