Rachael House 1987

Curator: Leonard McComb's print, Rachael House, immediately strikes me as conveying both vulnerability and strength. Editor: The stark contrast and visible mark-making definitely contribute to that raw, almost immediate feeling. I wonder about the specific etching process used here. Curator: Consider how the lines around her head almost radiate, creating a halo effect, imbuing her with a certain spiritual quality. Perhaps the cross-hatching suggests the weight of interiority. Editor: I'm drawn to the areas where the plate seems to be barely touched. The negative space around the figure is almost as important as the marks themselves, highlighting the physical act of removal. Curator: It's as if McComb is revealing not just Rachael House's likeness, but also a deeper emotional landscape through symbolic form. Editor: Understanding the tools and labor involved – how much time it took to bite that plate – changes how I see it. Curator: Yes, the labor contributes to the symbolic weight. It invites reflection on both presence and absence. Editor: Absolutely, seeing the physical process helps me connect with the image and its subject in a more grounded way.