Rain on the Mesa - New Mexico 1951

Adja Yunkers made this print, Rain on the Mesa, using black ink to conjure a vision of New Mexico. It's a process of layering and wiping away, a dance between control and chance. The textures are incredible, aren't they? Look at the way he's built up the dark areas, almost like he’s crumpled and pressed the ink into the paper. And then those bright white shapes, they jut out like shards of light. There’s a small figure in the bottom corner, standing in the landscape; it emphasizes the scale of nature and creates a somber mood. Yunkers’ exploration of texture reminds me of Antoni Tàpies’ material experimentation. Both artists invite us to slow down and really *see* the surfaces of things, to consider how a mark or a gesture can carry so much emotion. It’s not just a picture, it’s an event.