Qual (Torment) 1920 - 1921

Walter Gramatté made this print, “Qual (Torment),” using lithography. Torment, that’s a big word. I imagine Gramatté in his studio, wrestling with the stone, each mark a physical act of carving away at his own… demons? This isn't just representation; it's embodiment. Look at the jagged lines that form the figures. The colours aren’t mixed, they're stark and bold. What was he thinking when he chose that red, that sickly green? Is that a violin being played? Is it inflicting the torment, or trying to soothe it? There’s a raw, almost desperate quality to this print, like he’s trying to claw his way out of something. Artists like Gramatté remind us that painting—printmaking, too—is a form of thinking, a way of grappling with the world, and we, as viewers, are invited into that struggle. The colours are like a psychic scream. I like it!