G.H. Rothe, German (1935 - 2008)

Gatja Helgart. Rothe was born in 1935 in Beuthen, Germany. Her studies in art history, human anatomy, goldsmithing and boundless drawing resulted in her discovery of the mezzotint technique. Determined to bring back to life this difficult technique of printmaking led to an breakthrough in 1972, which was: transparency. Her years of study and tireless practice supplied the perfect medium for her broad array of images.

Ludwig von Siegen, the first mezzotint engraver would have been impressed. He wrote in 1642, "There is no living artist who could guess how this engraving has been executed."

Yet more impressive was G.H. Rothe's zeal; she completed over 70,000 mezzotints in her lifetime. She was recognized as a master of mezzotint and as one of the world's most extraordinary artists. Roth intertwined technical skill with her high-reaching imagination.