Was tun? 1962

Walter Rauch made this etching, "Was tun?", probably in 1984, though there's no date on the work. The intricate hatching and cross-hatching create a texture that almost seems to writhe on the page, making the figures appear both solid and spectral. Look at the way the artist uses line to create depth and form. See that strange, bird-like creature perched atop the figure? The way Rauch uses short, broken lines gives it an almost ethereal quality. The medium itself, etching, demands a certain kind of slowness, a deliberateness, which lends itself well to the subject matter. The grays and blacks evoke a sense of mystery and otherness. It reminds me a bit of the dark, fantastical world of Bosch, but with its own unique twist. You could say Rauch is asking the same question as many artists have before: How can we use the language of art to explore the unknown, to give form to our deepest fears and wildest imaginings? In this regard art serves to ask a question, rather than give an answer.