Snakes c. 1945

This print, Snakes, by Flora Blanc Reeder looks like it might have been etched, and then maybe some aquatint thrown in for those lovely, almost watery, tonal washes. I can imagine Reeder bent over the plate, her hand moving with the needle as she draws and redraws the forms of the snakes, entwined around a branch. I wonder what the snake means to her? Is it a symbol, a formal device? Or does it represent a psychological state? The lines are really interesting. Some are tight and controlled, giving the snakes a delicate, almost ornamental quality. But then there are these loose, almost scribbled lines in the background that create a sense of depth and mystery. I love the way the snakes are interwoven and the contrast between light and dark. It reminds me of other artists who explore similar themes, like maybe Dürer or Goya, who used printmaking to express both beauty and the darker aspects of the human condition.