Tokyo born Tetsuo Araki learned color intaglio printmaking in Paris with experimental printmaker Johnny Friedlaender. In this abstracted color composition he uses aquatint to achieve the deep blacks of the chasm and rich colors of the the checkerboard pattern.
The light areas of the top and bottom are done created using a light aquatint which is scraped back and lightly etched lines are added. The white "string" connecting the two sides also appears to have been scraped away.
Tetsuo Araki died in Paris at the young age of 47.