Far-Feeler 1920

Johannes Molzahn created this print, titled "Far-Feeler," using etching, a traditional printmaking process. The matrix for this image was a metal plate, likely copper or zinc. Molzahn would have coated the plate with a waxy, acid-resistant ground, then scratched his composition into the surface, exposing the metal. When the plate was immersed in acid, the exposed lines were bitten, creating recessed marks. Ink was then applied to the plate and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched lines. Finally, damp paper was laid on the plate and run through a press, transferring the image to the paper. The resulting lines are crisp and precise, giving the composition a machine-made quality, belying the labor-intensive process. The image itself is an amalgamation of geometric forms and stylized figures, suggesting the influence of both Constructivism and Surrealism, both of which emerged in response to industrialization and modern life, using the very tools that defined these shifts. Recognizing these processes allows us to appreciate the rich dialogue between handcraft and machine production that defines much of modern art.