Beetles 1951

This etching, "Beetles," by Germaine Richier, renders a world of insects through a deeply physical process. The marks are like scratches on a plate, giving each beetle a life of its own. Look at the way the dark ink clings to the paper, creating a textured surface that feels almost sculptural. You can practically feel the weight and density of the beetles’ bodies. The background is alive too, with soft textures and scratch marks, giving it an otherworldly feel. There is one beetle in the top left which dominates the composition. It has a bulbous body with spotted wings, like a weird sort of Mickey Mouse silhouette. The heaviness of it makes me think of how Philip Guston built up layers of paint, creating cartoonish forms. Richier seems to be speaking to a hidden, darker side of nature. She reminds us that art is never really finished, it just keeps getting into conversations with other artists.