Experimental Plate #2 1954 - 1955

Bernard Childs made this experimental plate in 1954 using an etching technique, and what strikes me is how he’s built up a whole world with just a few lines and tones. It’s like a universe in miniature, made with a process that’s all about embracing chance and letting the materials speak. Look closely, and you’ll see how Childs uses the texture of the plate to create depth and atmosphere. The lines are sometimes sharp, sometimes blurred, creating this feeling of movement and energy. There's a section on the left with bold, diagonal slashes, then your eye is drawn across to the right with vertical patterns and circular forms. It reminds me of Cy Twombly and his scribbled marks, but here, there’s also a sense of something hidden, like a secret language waiting to be deciphered. Childs' work is a conversation with other artists across time, and a reminder that art is never finished, but always evolving.