Plate 17
Per Kirkeby, 1993
About this artwork
**Plate 17 from Perkeby's 1993 Portfolio** Perkeby, a renowned artist (1938–2018), was a master of abstraction inspired by nature, geology, and Nordic landscapes. In 199, he created this portfolio of prints, including Plate , showcasing his printmaking prowess at a pivotal moment in his career. for monumental brick sculptures and textured paintings, Kirkeby brought his organic, earthy forms to intimate paper works bridging his sculptural instincts with graphic precision. This, gifted to the National Gallery of by print publisher Kathan Brown, reflects the collaborative spirit of late-20th-century print workshops like Crown Point Press. The medium—aquatint, crayon-resist flatbite etching, and drypoint with scraping on luxurious Somerset Textured White—highlights Kirkeby's technical innovation. Aquatint builds velvety mimicking natural strata, while crayon-resist flatbite (a variant of sugar-lift) allows fluid, painterly resists for organic textures. Drypoint incises sharp lines, and scraping lifts ink for luminous highlights, evoking eroded rock faces or abstract terrains. At just 12.1 x 14.6 cm on a larger 26.7 x 33 cm sheet, the plate's scale invites close contemplation, emphasizing the portfolio's classificatory role in the museum's collection (CG-W). This work captures Kirkeby's enduring fascination with materiality, making complex techniques accessible and inviting visitors to trace the artist's hand in every etched mark. A gem for print enthusiasts! (198 words)