Initiation 1951

Leonard Edmonson made this print called "Initiation" using etching, and it feels like a deep dive into subconscious mark-making. It’s all about letting the process lead, you know? Looking closely, you can see how the etched lines create these complex textures and forms, kind of floating between representation and abstraction. Notice the way some areas are densely packed with lines, creating dark, weighty shapes, while others are sparse and open, allowing the light to breathe. There’s this one shape near the bottom, a kind of rounded form filled with concentric lines and a little portal-like opening. It makes me think about entering a space, a psychological space maybe, and the delicate lines surrounding it feel so tentative, like the first steps of a journey. Edmondson reminds me a bit of someone like Terry Winters, who also explores biomorphic forms. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide what the work means.