Exlibris of Kazakova 1974

Oleksandr Aksinin made this Exlibris of Kazakova, probably in the 1970s, using etching on what looks like a thin piece of paper. It's mostly black and white, but full of quirky details, right? Look at those lines! Aksinin uses a really controlled, almost obsessive hand to build up this image. The density of the hatching, especially around the hourglass shape, is wild. And then there are all those kitties tumbling around! Notice how each cat is rendered with slight variations in line quality and expression. It's like he's not just drawing cats, but capturing the feeling of cat-ness, you know, that mix of chaos and charm. I'm also drawn to the lettering. It has this playful, almost childlike quality. Aksinin's mark-making reminds me of Paul Klee, in the way he balances whimsy with real technical skill. This piece feels like an invitation into a strange dream world, where cats reign supreme and time has no meaning.