Janus-Bogen (Arch of Janus) 1959 - 1960

Anton Lehmden made this print, Janus-Bogen, with etching. I imagine him hunched over a metal plate, meticulously scratching away at the surface with tiny tools. See how the etched lines give the arch a ghostly presence, like a memory of something grand and ancient? I wonder if Lehmden was thinking about the Arch of Janus in Rome, a symbol of transitions and duality. The lines are so delicate, but they build up to create this impressive structure, full of texture. Look at the top - nature is taking over, with all the little plants growing out of it! It's a reminder that everything changes, and that even the most solid things will eventually crumble. Artists like Lehmden remind me that art-making is an ongoing conversation. We're all just riffing off of each other, trying to make sense of the world in our own way. And that's what makes it so exciting!