The King c. 1954

This is William Gropper’s print, The King. Look at the quick, scratchy marks. The dark ink creates a sense of drama, like a spotlight in a theater. You can almost feel the artist’s hand moving across the plate, etching with purpose and energy. It’s a process laid bare. The king is perched on something, with tiny figures below. What is he sitting on? Is he a benevolent ruler or a tyrant? The texture of the ink is rough and uneven. Notice the way the lines vary in thickness, creating a sense of depth and volume. The artist doesn’t hide the process. Instead, these marks add to the emotional impact of the piece. Gropper reminds me a bit of Honoré Daumier, with his political edge and focus on injustice. It is interesting to think about art as a conversation, always shifting. There are no easy answers, just more questions and ways of seeing.