En samler 1909

Cilius Johannes Konrad Andersen made this etching, 'En samler', with ink on paper. The density of marks here really interests me, the way the image emerges from a swarm of lines. It’s all about pressure and release, isn’t it? See how the darkest areas are built up through a dense accumulation of marks, while the lighter areas are almost untouched. It’s kind of like a dance – some areas get all the attention, while others are left to breathe. Take a look at the collector’s beard. See how those tiny, closely spaced lines create the illusion of texture and form. The way the light seems to catch the paper in different places, it almost feels sculptural. I am reminded of Man Ray and his Rayographs, these works, like this one, seem to hover between representation and abstraction, solidity and ephemerality. Ultimately, the beauty of art lies in its ambiguity, its capacity to evoke multiple meanings and interpretations.