Fin c. 1970

Wolfgang Gäfgen made "Fin" using etching, an old printmaking method where lines are bitten into a metal plate with acid. This intaglio technique yields crisp lines, which he’s used to create a surreal scene, with the texture coming from the varying depths of the etching. The aquatint technique he employed here is interesting: it achieves areas of tone rather than line, by selectively exposing parts of the plate to acid through a porous ground. Think of it like spray-painting with acid! In this particular artwork, the aquatint creates a misty atmosphere that contrasts with the sharply defined figures. The labor-intensive nature of etching contrasts with the dreamlike, almost whimsical quality of the image. It prompts us to consider the relationship between the hand-made and the mass-produced, as prints can create multiples of an image. The juxtaposition of the serene scene with the technical process reminds us to think about the labor involved in creating art, and how the medium itself contributes to the final meaning.