Tightrope Walker (Seiltänzer) 

Paul Gangolf created this print, "Tightrope Walker," using etching, a process that demands time and precision. The artist would have coated a metal plate with wax, scratched an image into it, and then submerged the plate in acid. The acid bites into the exposed metal, creating recessed lines that hold ink. The dense cityscape in the print feels precarious, mirroring the tightrope walker’s risky occupation. Etching is an indirect process, where the image emerges through stages of labor, and the result relies on the artist’s control over the materials and the tools. Each stage, from preparing the plate to applying the ink and running it through the press, calls for skilled craftsmanship. The stark black and white palette adds to the sense of drama, emphasizing the contrasts between light and shadow. This print blurs the lines between the fine arts and the skilled crafts, inviting us to appreciate the value of making and the stories embedded in the process.