Darmstadt Hiccough 1966

Curator: Horst Janssen's "Darmstadt Hiccough" is a striking piece. Look closely—it's housed at the Harvard Art Museums, a potent example of his graphic work. The stark contrasts really grab you, don't they? Editor: It feels like a bad dream, all spidery lines and looming darkness. The figure almost seems to be swallowing itself. Curator: Janssen was known for his mastery of etching, and this piece is no exception. Notice the fine, precise lines—they’re achieved through careful manipulation of the etching plate. The solid blacks ground the composition, don’t they? Editor: The black shapes certainly dominate. They feel almost like two figures in suits, flanking this contorted…thing. It’s unsettling, like peering into someone else’s private agony. Curator: Agony that translates to the physicality of the printmaking process itself, a material testament to emotional expression. Editor: Yes, and for me, it's a stark reminder that even the darkest corners of the human experience can be explored—and even made beautiful—through art. Curator: Precisely, it exemplifies Janssen's ability to transform personal experience into universal commentary.