Squirrel 1964

Curator: What a curious and compelling little fellow. We’re looking at Mordecai Moreh’s 1964 etching, “Squirrel.” Editor: There’s something both endearing and slightly unnerving about it, wouldn't you agree? Those eyes seem to peer right through you. It feels both meticulously observed and utterly fantastical, and those frantic graphite lines...it looks like it's been extracted from an old fairy tale book. Curator: Moreh, born in Baghdad, brings a distinctive, almost frenetic energy to his work, a visual manifestation, perhaps, of the squirrel's own boundless, bushy-tailed zest for life. I’m interested in this sense of liveliness conjured using etching and graphite—both humble materials and reproductive technologies designed for wide distribution. Editor: The use of such commonplace mediums underscores something essential. The figure is very traditional, evoking a bygone era when wildlife illustration served scientific and colonial purposes, and squirrels were killed and mounted. In comparison, here we see a sensitive focus on line and shadow which emphasizes its physical presence, yes, but also speaks to a deep affection and reverence for the animal. Curator: It's like a whisper of realism blended with a hearty dose of surreal charm. Observe the intricate detail in its fur and the dreamy almost hallucinatory scribbles forming a vague setting... It creates a rich tapestry of textures, doesn’t it? What I also find interesting is this strange mix of hyper-realism, which merges beautifully with very delicate, fine detailing around its head and limbs that gives an odd contrast throughout the animal's whole composition and anatomy.. Editor: Indeed. The scale also contributes to the work's appeal. These smaller prints—this one being number 5 of 18—invite us to draw near and engage with the subject on an intimate, almost secretive level, requiring closer inspection to note all its delicate qualities. Curator: I believe that’s one thing about this squirrel: he begs for closeness. What a pleasure to pause and find new wonder in this quiet, twitching fellow. Editor: Absolutely. An everyday creature, yes, yet here it offers so much to contemplate about materiality, process, and how we assign value, both to the artwork and the world it depicts.