Crayfish

A crayfish occupies the centre of this etching, rendered in bold linear hatching against a stark ground. The crustacean is viewed from above, its segmented body and articulated limbs carefully delineated through precise crosshatching that creates volume and texture. The composition is intimate yet monumental, the creature’s form filling much of the rectangular frame. Boonzaier’s command of the etching medium produces a rich tonal range from deepest black to luminous white, characteristic of his sustained engagement with printmaking throughout his long career.