Velázquez c. 1963

Leonard Baskin made this print, called Velázquez, at an undetermined date using wood engraving. I love how the stark contrast of black and white creates a dramatic and emotionally charged image. It's like Baskin is carving away at the darkness to reveal the face beneath. Look at the way the lines are etched into the wood, creating a rough, almost visceral texture. The face emerges from the shadows, full of expression and intensity. You can almost feel the weight of history and the artist's own hand in every mark. It is the kind of image that gets under your skin and makes you think. Baskin's work often explores themes of mortality and human existence. You can also see a similar quality in the works of Käthe Kollwitz, both artists use the medium of printmaking to explore themes of loss and grief in their works. Like art, life isn't about answers, it's about questions.