Vsichni doplujeme (We Shall All Reach Our Aims) 1995

Hana Storchová created this print, Vsichni doplujeme, using etching, a process dating back to the Middle Ages. The original drawing was incised into a metal plate covered with wax, then submerged in acid. The acid bites into the exposed metal, creating lines that hold ink. This plate is then pressed onto paper, transferring the image. The image itself is a sea of candles, or possibly boats, all oriented toward the horizon, like migrants at sea. The printmaking technique has a deep social history; it democratizes the image, making it available to many. It also demands labor, both physical and intellectual. The artist's hand guides the etching needle, but the acid also has its say, subtly altering the final result. Storchová may be alluding to the collective effort required for social change. The delicate, almost ghostly quality of the etching emphasizes the fragility of hope and the arduous journey towards a better future. It reminds us that art and craft are not separate endeavors, but intertwined expressions of human experience and social commentary.