Blue Club (working proof 7) 1981

This is "Blue Club (working proof 7)," an undated print by Richard Diebenkorn. It was made using etching, a process that demands patience and precision. The artist covers a metal plate with a waxy, protective layer, then scratches an image into it with a sharp needle. The plate is then submerged in acid, which bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves. Ink is applied, filling these grooves, and the surface is wiped clean. Finally, the plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the image. Here, Diebenkorn uses this method to explore abstraction. Notice how the etched lines define the spade shape and the other overlaid geometric forms, lending a sense of depth and texture to the composition. The "working proof" in the title tells us this was an experimental stage. In printmaking, each impression pulls on the last and can take a lifetime to resolve. By embracing the technical aspects of etching, Diebenkorn blurs the boundaries between process and product, inviting us to appreciate the labor and skill embedded within the art itself.