Michael 1990

Curator: Here we have Frank Auerbach’s etching entitled "Michael," currently residing in the Tate Collections. Editor: It's like a whirlwind of lines trying to coalesce into a face; so much raw energy embedded in the etching process. Curator: Auerbach's work often reflects post-war anxieties and a search for stability in a rapidly changing world, particularly within the London art scene. Editor: The very act of repeatedly etching and reworking the plate reflects a process of layering and excavating, a material struggle to capture the subject's essence. Curator: His portraits often depict individuals within his close circle. I wonder, what might this "Michael" represent in Auerbach’s personal history? Editor: Perhaps "Michael" embodies the fractured nature of identity, the constant flux between formation and disintegration that Auerbach's technique embodies so vividly. Curator: Yes, it's as if the medium itself mirrors the instability of memory and perception. Editor: Seeing the labor, I now appreciate how much these lines, etched and printed, capture a very human fragility. Curator: Indeed, a poignant exploration of the human condition.