Peter c. 1949

James V. Harvey’s ‘Peter’ is an etching on paper of a pale green-blue hue. I can imagine Harvey in his studio, leaning over a zinc or copper plate, armed with needles and mordants to bite into the metal. This act of physical engagement is not just about depiction; it's a form of thinking. Look at how the swirling lines define Peter’s face, almost cubist, with its multiple eyes and distorted features, the angular face and the rose clutched in his hand, each stroke a deliberate act, a conversation between the artist and his medium. Harvey's work reminds me of Picasso's portraits, both exploring the breakdown of form, looking at multiple viewpoints in one, as they search for new ways to represent the human condition. Artists are always talking to each other, across time, inspiring new languages of form.