Hondenkoppen c. 1944 - 1990

This is ‘Hondenkoppen’ by Kees Stoop, made with etching. You can see it in the hatching, these tiny repetitive marks are the whole thing, right? I just love the way Stoop captures the texture of the dogs’ fur using this technique. It’s like he's building up the image bit by bit, line by line. You have to be so committed to the process for this. Notice how the heads overlap, creating this intimate, almost tangled composition. There’s a real sense of depth and volume achieved through the density of the lines. Especially where the faces meet; it’s so subtle, it's almost like the dogs are sharing a secret! I think this process reminds me of Paula Rego's prints, that same kind of obsessive mark making is present. Stoop’s work is a reminder that art is an ongoing conversation, a constant push and pull between ideas, techniques, and individual expression.