Copulerend stel 1966

Aat Verhoog made this etching called 'Copulerend stel', which translates as 'copulating couple', by drawing into a metal plate. I wonder if Verhoog started with one figure, then another, and then just kept going, layering them up? You can almost feel the pressure of the artist’s hand, the way the lines overlap and intersect. The artist scratches and etches the surface. What does it mean to portray intimacy in such a way? I imagine him working late into the night, trying to capture something fleeting and complex. There is a sense of vulnerability, a raw honesty in the way the bodies are depicted. It reminds me of other artists who have explored the human form with such directness, like Paula Rego, for instance. Artists are constantly in conversation with one another, building upon ideas and pushing boundaries. This work feels like an invitation to embrace the messy, imperfect nature of human connection.