Satan II 1925 - 1927

Georges Rouault made this print called 'Satan II' using aquatint and soft ground etching. You can imagine Rouault working on this piece, the dark ink spreading across the plate, bitten by acid to create this shadowy figure emerging from the depths. I wonder what it was like for Rouault to make this. Did he feel he was wrestling with his own demons as he worked on the plate? I notice how the aquatint gives the surface a grainy texture, almost like the figure is dissolving before our eyes. Look at the way the eyes are rendered: heavy with shadow, they seem to hold a deep sadness or perhaps a knowing cynicism. This reminds me of other artists like Goya, who also delved into the darker aspects of the human condition. It's like they're all in conversation across time, each adding their own voice to the age-old questions of good and evil. I appreciate how Rouault leaves room for interpretation. "Satan II" becomes more than just a depiction of evil. Instead, it is an invitation to reflect on the complexities of the human soul.