Diagonal Hollyhocks 2003

This is John Walker’s "Diagonal Hollyhocks", a print, made in 1776. There’s a real drama to this piece. It’s all about the process, the artist's hand moving, almost dancing, across the surface. I imagine Walker wrestling with the plate, coaxing out these rough, raw marks. The stark contrast, the way the black ink is scratched away to reveal glimpses of light underneath, and the pops of color in the hollyhocks—it's like he's excavating an image from the darkness. And those hollyhocks, they're not precious or delicate. They're bold, almost brutal in their simplicity. There is something very immediate and alive in this picture. I am also reminded of other printmakers and painters from the era. I would say Walker definitely knew their work. This piece becomes part of that long conversation. We keep making, keep trying, keep failing, and in the end, sometimes, we make something that feels true.