Hephaestus 1968

Harry Hoehn made this print called ‘Hephaestus’, using an etching technique. Look at how the marks explode across the plate. I imagine Hoehn working on the plate, pushing the needle to create those clusters of sharp, directional lines. The title makes me think about the Greek god of metalworking, and it does have that industrial energy about it. Maybe he was thinking of industry, of labor, and of the intense heat needed to forge metal? It looks like a very physical process, and I bet there was a lot of trial and error in getting those dark blacks. I love how the lines almost vibrate on the surface, full of graphic energy. And now that I'm thinking about it, all artists are a bit like Hephaestus, transforming their world through skill, ingenuity, and a bit of magic.