King of the Island 1970

Curator: This is Rudolf Láng's "King of the Island," an etching dating back to 1970. What’s your first take? Editor: Monumental. I feel so tiny looking up at this colossal bird, it's almost unsettling. There is an incredible tension between dominance and fragility in those thin lines. Curator: Precisely. As an etching, the image's impact lies significantly in its process: acid is used to bite into a metal plate, creating these fine, deliberate lines which build up the form. Look at the density near the head and wings. The image relies on laborious, handcrafted skill. The landscape elements also seem particularly intriguing as the artist uses them to construct the setting but also give hints to the figure’s potential size through proximity and juxtaposition. Editor: Right. And yet, it doesn’t feel cold or calculated. There’s a dreamy, slightly fantastical quality to it. I think it evokes this idea of primal power and the weird vulnerability of that kind of rule, that authority. All those jungle critters watching... it is giving serious power imbalance vibes. The island almost feels like a stage, with the tiger casually resting like a pampered pet in the lower background of the artwork. The creator is forcing you to notice how much that bird stands out, literally. Curator: Absolutely. There is also something very relevant in how the production challenges our accepted high and low art definitions here, since prints allow for distribution, almost democratizing artwork which, through labor-intensive, high-end oil painting could not be obtained by lower social strata. Editor: Mmh, there’s something inherently poetic about turning this imposing, maybe oppressive figure, into something accessible, shared. Kind of like it’s suggesting the king’s authority can never be absolute if his image is available everywhere. A bit subversive! Curator: Indeed. The materiality speaks volumes, making us rethink assumptions about access, skill, and who gets to decide the value of the art. The landscape too makes one rethink assumptions, like those around natural and artificial settings. The "King of the Island" reminds me of our continuous struggle to define meaning, art and purpose in our societies. Editor: It does spark such internal thoughts, doesn't it? Well, I certainly won't look at etchings the same way after that. A good reminder to appreciate the craftsmanship, but more importantly to notice how its reach defies the central figure's grand illusion.