Une Chimère 1947

John Taylor Arms made this etching called ‘Une Chimère’ at some point during his career using a painstaking process of etching. Look closely, and you'll see how the density of marks creates value and form. The creature emerges from the page, almost tactile in its presence. See the way the lines curve and cross, building up the shadows around its snarling mouth and the sinuous curve of its back. It's all about the layering, the slow accumulation of marks that bring this stone guardian to life. The texture is incredible; it’s as if you could reach out and feel the rough-hewn surface of the gargoyle. The lines are so fine and precise, yet there’s a looseness to them, an energy that captures the essence of this mythical beast. This reminds me a little of Piranesi’s etchings of Rome: using line to create atmosphere. It's about the push and pull between control and chaos, representation and abstraction, isn't it?