Ach! Does Beer Make You Sleepy?

John August Groth made this etching, "Ach! Does Beer Make You Sleepy?" sometime in the mid 20th century. It's all about the line, isn't it? The artist uses it to corral the shapes of these figures, their round bellies, and the little constellation of beer bottles on the floor around them. Look closely, and you'll see how the texture of the paper becomes a part of the image, like a haze that softens the scene. It's as if the artist wanted to capture a feeling, more than a likeness. See the way he lets the line wobble and wander, giving everything a slightly tipsy quality. It makes me think of Philip Guston, especially the way he used to draw shoes or lumpy bodies. There's no neat and tidy meaning, just a mood, a suggestion of overindulgence and maybe some regrets. It's art as a conversation, a way of seeing the world and sharing it, with all its messy, blurry edges.