Cameras 1968

This etching by Jirí Balcar, titled Cameras, is a real mood. It’s all in grays, a kind of smoky, dreamlike scene. The figures are rendered with sketchy lines, like they might disappear if you look away for too long. Take a look at the mark-making, the dense cross-hatching that defines the shadowy figure, it’s like he’s trying to capture a moment, but it's elusive, always just out of reach. And above them, the floating cameras – are they watching us, or are we watching them? Balcar’s handling of the etching needle reminds me of artists like Kiki Smith, who also revel in the unpredictable alchemy of printmaking. Both artists understand that art isn't about answers, it's about embracing the questions.