Salome 1944

This print, ‘Salome,’ was made by Kurt Roesch, and just looking at it, I can almost hear the scratching of the plate! The dominant marks are gestural, abstract figures, and the color palette is a range of grays, achieved through an etching process. It feels like the artwork has come into being through a process of trial, error, and intuition. I sympathize with the artist and can imagine him moving his hand across the plate, thinking about other artists. The surface has a beautiful texture with both dark and light tones; and, each line communicates feeling, intention, and meaning. You can see how each mark adds to the conversation between the artist, artwork, and the viewer. Roesch is in an ongoing exchange of ideas across time, with artists before and after him, inspiring and expanding one another’s creativity.