Woman, Washington 1949

Editor: This is Rudi Lesser’s "Woman, Washington," an etching from 1949. The texture created by the etching is so evocative, it creates this somber mood... What strikes you most about the formal elements of this piece? Curator: Notice how Lesser manipulates line and value to construct form, yes, but especially to explore emotional depth. The lines are not merely representational; observe how the density and directionality work together to create the subject's psychological space. Consider how the scratching of the plate both defines form and contributes to the overwhelming emotion, a feeling of interiority. Editor: So the artistic process here amplifies the feeling that is expressed in the work? Curator: Precisely. Note how the texture around the figure seems to almost envelop her. This reinforces that sensation, placing a particular emphasis on the subject's own mental space. The way the etching is made creates a rough visual field which could represent the personal turmoil of the subject or reflect an element of societal mood. Editor: It’s amazing to think that something that seems simple, a portrait, can be interpreted at so many layers. Curator: Art isn't just about the "what," it is also very much about the "how." How lines create texture, and how those textures generate sensations. What happens if the same person were shown as smooth in form and precise in shape? Consider this contrast and its ramifications to the viewing process. Editor: That's a perspective shift I will remember as I view this again! Curator: Indeed. We shall keep our minds tuned into how it is made and why.