I recently discovered this etching by Julie Mehretu on the Crown Point Press website, and I am overwhelmed by the beauty of all the little details. Mehretu has a gift for creating a cohesive image from millions of tiny parts. Having seen her work in person, I was delighted to study all the varied marks of her prints and drawings, and this print, called “The Residual,” fascinates me in the same way. The image was created using a variety of printmaking techniques: color sugar lift and spit bite aquatints, with hard ground etching, drypoint, and burnishing. I can only imagine the hours of work that went into creating this stunning piece.
