Self-Expression 1932

Minna Citron made this etching, called Self-Expression, in 1932, and you can see how mark-making itself becomes the subject. It's all about the artist caught in the act, right? The surface has this gorgeous, scratchy texture, built up from countless tiny lines. Look how she uses these to define form, like the rounded shapes of her body, but also to create depth, layering the figure against the bustling cityscape visible through the window. It's like two worlds colliding: the intimate space of the artist and the clamorous energy of the modern city. That little detail of the feet resting on the easel's support - for me, it totally captures the artist's casual absorption in her work. The way the darks and lights are distributed reminds me of Käthe Kollwitz, another artist who used printmaking to explore themes of labor, selfhood, and the everyday. Ultimately, this piece is about looking, not just at the world, but at oneself in the act of creation.