In The Shadow Of The Giants 1932

Adolph Kopcak created this etching, In The Shadow Of The Giants, sometime in the mid-twentieth century, and it's all about the process. The marks in this image have a directness. You see the lines, the hatching, the density of the marks creating areas of dark and light. The overall greyscale adds to the industrial atmosphere. These dense clusters build up the image, and for me that's what gives the piece its energy. There's a beautiful balance between precision and a kind of raw energy. Look at the way the cranes are depicted, but also the scrappy textures of the smoke, or the figures working on the tracks in the lower part of the image. It’s almost like the artist is saying, "Here it is, this is how it’s done. This is the world." Kopcak's work reminds me of other artists documenting industry at this time, like Charles Sheeler. This piece isn't about perfection; it’s about something much more alive.