Emporbluherr und Niedergehen 1922

Willy Jaeckel made this etching, "Emporbluherr und Niedergehen," with subtle tonal variations and a dynamic composition. I can imagine Jaeckel, hovering over the plate, watching the acid do its work, biting his nails and maybe feeling like he was onto something, maybe not. The figure seems to be in a state of becoming, caught between ascension and descent, maybe caught between life and death. That central burst of light—a powerful, radiant halo—pushes the figure forward while simultaneously dissolving its form. Those lines around the figure – they're not just about light. It's like the artist is trying to push the boundaries of what a body can be, a conversation with Munch and the German Expressionists, who were also obsessed with the raw emotionality of the human experience. When we look at art we are all in this swirling, ongoing dance together. I love that.