Bolt Cutters (first state) 1972

Jim Dine made this etching, Bolt Cutters, at some point in his career, and what strikes me is how it’s all about the line. It’s not just a picture of a tool, it’s an exploration of how a few simple marks can conjure form and space. Look at the hatched lines fanning out from the head of the bolt cutters; they're almost like a cloud of energy, hinting at the force this tool can unleash. The way Dine uses the etching needle feels so immediate, so intuitive. There’s a raw quality to the lines that I really admire. The surface has a kind of delicate grit, that gives the whole image a ghostly, ethereal feel. It reminds me a little of Jasper Johns's use of familiar objects, elevated through the act of artmaking. Ultimately, Dine's print is a reminder that art is not just about representation, but about the process of seeing and feeling.