Crossword Puzzle Hard to Solve 1962

Jirí Balcar made this etching, ‘Crossword Puzzle Hard to Solve’ in 1962, using metal, acid, and paper. The incised lines of the grid and cryptic symbols take on a life of their own, due to the nature of the etching process. Balcar would have covered a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant ground, then drawn through it to expose the metal. Immersing the plate in acid would bite away the exposed lines, allowing them to hold ink. The plate is then pressed onto paper, revealing the composition. The linear precision contrasts with the puzzle’s challenging nature. The crossword becomes more than just a game; it transforms into a reflection on the artist’s social context during a period of political tension in Czechoslovakia. The grid could be a metaphor for the restrictions on freedom of expression. This work blurs the lines between graphic design, a commercial art form, and fine art. Balcar asks us to consider the cultural and political significance imbued in the making.