#12: La Muerte (Death) 2008

Marina Pallares made this small print, "#12: La Muerte," using a linocut or woodcut technique, it's graphic, with a raw, handmade feel. It’s all about the contrast between black and white, making every line and shape pop with stark clarity. You can almost feel the artist’s hand carving into the block, it's the kind of process where each mark is a decision, a commitment. The image of Death has a crown, a full skirt, and long plaits – but it's the details that snag my attention, like the textures in the skirt, built up from tiny triangular cuts in the lino. The bold, decisive strokes give it a playful yet macabre quality, which reminds me a little of Jose Guadalupe Posada’s skeleton prints. Works like this are a great reminder that art is a conversation across time and cultures, always riffing on old themes, giving them a new twist. Ultimately, the image embraces the ambiguity of life and death, offering a space for imagination and contemplation.