Geometric Abstraction 1964

Stuart Egnal made this etching called Geometric Abstraction in 1964. The matrix of lines, so dense in places, like a swarm of gnats, gives you the impression of looking at something through a screen. There are four iterations of a still life scene with bottles and geometric forms. The objects are reduced to near abstraction, the architectural structure behind them also seemingly on the verge of collapse or disintegration. You can almost feel Egnal grappling with the medium, a struggle to both represent and obscure simultaneously. Notice how the horizontal bands intersect with vertical lines, creating compartments that both separate and unify the composition. The artist’s hand is so evident. It reminds me of Picasso’s cubist etchings, where the line becomes a way to deconstruct and rebuild reality on the surface of the plate. What do you see?