Cathedral 1958

Gabor Peterdi made this print, Cathedral, using a complex process of engraving. Look closely, and you’ll see how the image is built up from thousands of tiny marks. The texture is so dense, you can almost feel it. It’s not just a picture of something; it’s an experience of texture and light. Peterdi wasn't just representing a cathedral, but building one, mark by mark. Check out the way the light seems to filter through the dense areas of hatching. There is a vertical band of brighter marks that draw the eye up the image. It gives the feeling of looking up through a densely wooded forest, as if you're standing in a quiet clearing looking up through the canopy. Peterdi’s work reminds me of some of the visionary printmakers like Bresdin. Both are able to create incredibly detailed, imaginative landscapes using only the simplest of means. Ultimately, this piece shows that art isn't about perfect representation; it's about exploring the possibilities of a medium.