Head of a Girl 1924

Max Kaus made this etching, *Head of a Girl*, probably in his studio using acid to eat away at a metal plate, kind of like a controlled erosion. You can imagine him, head bent over the plate, scratching lines into the surface. Looking at this portrait, I wonder about Kaus's state of mind. The girl’s expression is so still, almost severe. Is this detachment or observation? The lines around her face aren't soft or flattering, they’re kind of raw and direct. It reminds me a bit of Käthe Kollwitz—that same unflinching look at humanity. There's something compelling about the directness of the marks, the way Kaus uses the etching needle almost like a blunt pencil. He is part of this long, ongoing conversation artists have, across time and space, each adding their voice to the mix.