Untitled c. 1939

This print by Boris Margo is made using etching, a process with a long history in both art and industry. The etcher covers a metal plate with a waxy ground, then scratches away lines to reveal the metal underneath. Immersed in acid, the exposed lines are eaten away, creating grooves. Ink is then applied to the plate, filling these grooves, and the surface is wiped clean. Finally, the image is transferred to paper under high pressure, resulting in the print we see here. Margo’s biomorphic abstraction, with its spiky protrusions, recalls Surrealist art of the interwar period. The laborious, painstaking work involved is crucial; etching is not just a reproductive technique but also a medium for deep creative expression. By engaging with the craft of printmaking, Margo elevates the status of what could otherwise be seen as a purely commercial method, reminding us of the artistry inherent in all forms of making.