Whitby 2017

Giuliana Lazzerini made this print called ‘Whitby’, and it’s the kind of picture that makes you want to grab your coat and head straight for the coast. Look at the way Lazzerini reduces everything to these simple, graphic shapes. The gray and purple are so muted they're almost soothing, while the bright pink boat is like a little jolt of energy. The lines are sharp and decisive, giving the whole scene a slightly flattened, almost dreamlike quality, like a memory fading at the edges. And notice how the white space becomes just as important as the colored areas, defining the shapes of the houses and trees with just a few strokes. I’m reminded of early 20th century printmakers like Edward Bawden, with his quirky takes on the English landscape. But Lazzerini brings her own contemporary sensibility to the table. It’s a reminder that art is always in conversation, with artists borrowing, riffing, and remixing ideas across time.