11:45 P.M. 1947

Letterio Calapai made this print called 11:45 P.M. using engraving and etching. It's a real buzz, a proper head trip into the city's chaotic heart. The way he's worked those lines into the metal, there's a real scrappiness to it, a feeling he's really digging into the plate. Look closely, and you'll notice how the textures vary. Some areas are smooth, almost polished, while others are rough and raw, as if he attacked the surface with a vengeance. The stark contrast between light and shadow, the way those lines bite into the paper, that's pure emotion, a gut punch. It's like a mad conversation between the artist and the plate. Now, check out the lower left corner, where all those figures are clustered. The lines there are dense, almost frantic, creating a sense of unease. For me, this reminds me of Max Beckmann, but where Beckmann is all about the controlled line, Calapai embraces a kind of joyous, frenzied energy. In the end, it's all a dance, isn't it? A dance with the materials, with the subject, and with ourselves.