What stuff are we who dream so brilliantly when dreaming is not enough? c. 20th century

Curator: The density in this etching by Donald J. Handel, "What stuff are we who dream so brilliantly when dreaming is not enough?", is initially striking. Editor: It feels overwhelming. So many details crammed together. The process alone seems incredibly labor-intensive. Curator: Precisely! The layering of symbols, the use of line – it suggests a world where identity is constructed through multiple, often conflicting narratives. Note the figures, the architectural fragments, the dreamlike quality. It reads as a commentary on the fragmented self. Editor: I'm drawn to the way the artist uses line to create texture. The different patterns, and the shapes made with hatching and cross-hatching, give an impression of tactile qualities, despite the flatness of the print. Curator: It seems Handel is inviting us to question what is lost when dreams don't suffice and our material reality intrudes. Editor: Yes, and to appreciate the labor involved in trying to make sense of these fragmented realities. The very act of its making is a statement. Curator: Ultimately, it leaves me with a sense of the human condition, wrestling with meaning. Editor: It also leaves me wondering about the artist's hands, and the sheer dedication required to create something so intricate.