Triple Frieze 

Joseph Hecht made this print using a painstaking engraving process. He cut the image into a metal plate, likely copper, with burins, or specialized carving tools. The image appears as a series of animals arranged across three horizontal bands. You can see how the labor-intensive method really defines the aesthetic. Each delicate line is the result of physical effort. Hecht doesn't disguise the amount of work involved; he makes it the whole point. The black and white contrast, achieved by inking the plate and then wiping it clean before printing, further emphasizes the linear quality of the engraving. This technique, traditionally associated with mass production and dissemination of images, takes on a unique character here. The combination of skilled handcraft and the potential for reproducibility raises questions about the value of art in an age of mechanical production, blurring the boundaries between fine art and craft.