The Fall into Infinity 1918

Walter Gramatté pulled this etching, titled *The Fall into Infinity,* through the press sometime in the early 20th century. Look at the scratchy lines, like nervous energy made visible. You can almost feel the artist's hand, the pressure and release as the image took shape. I imagine Gramatté hunched over the plate, coaxing out the image bit by bit. What was he thinking? Was he trying to capture a feeling, an idea, or a dream? There’s a figure, maybe falling, maybe flying – who knows? And a hand reaching out, grasping for something, or maybe just surrendering to the unknown. The dark marks contrast with the negative space of the paper which creates a really interesting tension. I think of other artists, like Käthe Kollwitz, grappling with similar themes of life, death, and the human condition. It’s like they’re all in conversation, these artists, across time and space. Each one adding their voice to the chorus, and inviting us to listen.