Navajo Snake Dance I c. 1933

Mahonri Mackintosh Young made this etching, Navajo Snake Dance I, sometime in the 20th century. It's all about the scratching, isn't it? Look at the way he builds up tone with these tiny, nervous lines. Like a restless energy is captured on the plate. The sepia tones are so evocative, they give the scene a real sense of history, like a faded photograph. It’s fascinating how Young uses the stark contrast between light and shadow to create depth and drama. See the figure on the left? The way the light catches the edge of his arm, it almost feels like you could reach out and touch it. I'm reminded of Kathe Kollwitz, with her stark, unflinching portrayals of human struggle. Though, Young has his own distinct voice. It's a conversation across time, this art thing, each artist riffing off the others, adding their own spin. And that's what makes it so endlessly interesting.