De rouwende Maria 1918

Emil Orlik made this print, "De rouwende Maria", using the etching technique. The lines, etched into the metal, almost seem to sketch out a feeling more than an image. I am drawn to the way Orlik embraces the inherent qualities of the etching process. Look closely, and you can see the delicate web of lines creating the folds of Mary’s veil and clothing. The way he uses the lines to suggest depth and shadow is really effective. The emotional weight of the piece comes, in part, from this directness. There's a vulnerability in the raw quality of the etched line – it’s like seeing the artist's thought process laid bare. It reminds me a little of Käthe Kollwitz. Both artists knew how to create emotionally charged images through the intensity of their mark making. Ultimately, it’s the ambiguity that keeps me coming back to this image. Is it a portrait of grief or a meditation on faith? Maybe it’s both. And that's the beauty of art.