The Three Kings 1952 - 1953

Norman Gorbaty made this print called 'The Three Kings' using etching, a process of drawing into a metal plate. It's so interesting how he builds up his images with these scratchy, expressive lines! The overall tone is dark, but within that, there’s a lot of variation. Look at the dense crosshatching that creates areas of deep shadow, contrasted with the lighter, sketchier lines that define the figures. It feels kind of frenetic, like he’s digging into the metal with real energy. The faces of the kings feel both monumental and vulnerable, like ancient masks carved with shaky hands. There’s a real tension between representation and abstraction; you can kind of see the faces, but they're also broken up by lines and patterns. Gorbaty reminds me of someone like Dubuffet, who was also interested in raw, expressive mark-making. But really, the beauty of a piece like this is that it doesn't give you all the answers; it invites you to bring your own interpretations and make your own connections.