Markt (Market) 1928

This is Paul Gangolf’s “Markt (Market),” a drypoint etching, so you get that lovely burr along the lines, like a whispered secret. The process itself is so direct, scratching into the plate, a kind of immediate, unmediated mark making. Look at the way the figures are crammed together, almost tumbling out of the frame. There's a rawness in the lines, a kind of joyous awkwardness. The etched lines are thin and wiry, creating a surface that feels both delicate and intense. It’s like Gangolf is inviting us into his own private world, one filled with strange characters, and even stranger goings-on. It reminds me of some of Kirchner's street scenes, that same slightly feverish energy, but with a folk-art sensibility. It’s like he's saying, “Here’s my world, take it or leave it.” And I, for one, am happy to be here, trying to decipher the secrets of this wonderfully weird market scene.