Man and War 1942

This etching by Harry Sternberg titled *Man and War* uses aquatint and engraving on paper. Looking at this, I immediately think of the sheer physical effort involved in creating a work like this. Sternberg has created many different visual textures, from the fine lines of the man's body, to the chaotic, almost violent marks surrounding him. And what is that? A set square and compass fighting amongst the demons at the bottom. It must have been a really physical process, pressing the plate, wiping away ink, making marks, and then, the unpredictable reveal. I can imagine Sternberg in his studio, a real mix of intention and accident happening at once. For me, the real juice of this print comes from his marks, which give a sense of total unease. I can feel his anxious state of mind. We’re always having a conversation with artists of the past, seeing how their work resonates in our own practices and ways of thinking.