The pursuit of happiness 

Fritz Boehle created this etching, "The Pursuit of Happiness," using a technique rooted in the history of printmaking, but pushing against its traditional boundaries. The entire image is built up through tiny etched lines on a metal plate, which would have been painstakingly crafted. Boehle scratched into the plate with fine tools, each mark catching ink and transferring onto the paper. Notice the density of these lines, creating shadows, textures, and a sense of depth. The contrast comes from the physical act of removing material and the application of ink, highlighting the labor involved in printmaking. Boehle isn't merely reproducing an image. He is manipulating the printmaking process itself to convey meaning. The act of etching, a process of controlled destruction and recreation, mirrors the struggles inherent in the pursuit of happiness. Boehle challenges the notion of printmaking as purely reproductive, elevating it to a medium of profound expression.