Katakombe (Catacomb) 1960

Anton Lehmden made this etching, "Katakombe", in 1960, and it's all about the process. The etching is a web of fine lines, like a nervous system exposed. It's as though the artist is thinking through the image, letting the needle scratch out an idea, correct it, then find another. The texture is everything here. It's gritty, almost like dirt under your fingernails. Notice how the lines build up to create depth, especially around that small, boxy structure in the center. It’s a kind of architectural form but it also resembles the idea of a grave or mausoleum, and this makes the space within feel very heavy. This reminds me of Piranesi’s etchings of prisons, but with a more personal, almost obsessive quality. There's no grand narrative here, just an artist wrestling with form and space, letting the process lead the way. It’s a reminder that art doesn't always have to be about answers, it can also be about the questions.