Meditation 1947

Glen Alps made this print, called Meditation, using a technique called collograph. It's a process where the image is built up through layers and textures on a board, then printed. The way Alps has worked the surface here, it almost feels like he's coaxing these figures out of a haze of tiny marks. The mood is somber, right? You can feel it in the downcast gaze of the figures, in the way the light seems to cling to the surfaces. It's like the whole image is breathing, thanks to the texture. Look at the way Alps renders the folds in the clothing, or the way he creates depth in the shadows – each tiny mark contributes to the overall feeling. The hand holding what I take to be a piece of meat, looks almost sculptural and quite strange. The way Alps coaxes the image out of the plate reminds me of Max Beckmann, who was also interested in psychological intensity. In the end, though, this piece really holds it's own, floating in a mysterious psychological space.