Three Generals 1962

Misch Kohn made this print, Three Generals, sometime in the 20th century, using etching and engraving. Look how Kohn's approach to mark making has this all-over quality that almost feels like restless energy. I love how the texture feels both intentional and accidental, like a conversation between control and letting go. See the density of the line work? They kind of remind me of how Cy Twombly layered marks, creating this space that's both chaotic and completely resolved. These aren’t smooth, heroic generals, but these are shapes filled with language, or maybe some kind of alien script. Look at the yellow stripes that anchor the image. They guide the eye, but also disrupt the form, adding tension. I wonder about the contrast between the title, Three Generals, and the vulnerability of the drawing style. Maybe Kohn is implying something about the absurdity of power, or the vulnerability of those who wield it.