Angel 1950

Alice L. Gershel Hunt made this print of an angel, and the process itself feels almost like an act of devotion. See how the black ink sits slightly raised on the page? That texture comes from the pressure of the block, like a kiss. It’s graphic, bold, but also delicate in its details – look at the tiny stars on the angel’s sash, or the intricate feathers of her wings. The darks are so solid and absolute, it's like she’s pulled the image out of the ether. The angel holds a butterfly in one hand, a symbol of transformation. Maybe the other "hand" is actually the head of another figure? It's not clear. It's like she's both earthbound and otherworldly. This reminds me a little bit of the work of William Blake, that same sense of visionary intensity, rendered with such care and precision. It’s like she’s inviting us to see the world with new eyes, to find the sacred in the everyday. That kind of looking takes time, and like the artwork itself, rewards the effort.