Children and Still Life 1956

Leonard Baskin made this print, 'Children and Still Life', using wood engraving. It's like a dance between black and white, isn't it? A real conversation, not just one loud voice. Looking at the vase, the plants explode with detail, yet the children appear muted, like ghosts. The artist plays with layering here, a bit like juggling – throwing different elements in the air and seeing where they land. I see tiny, almost frantic marks, building up a sense of texture and depth, especially in the shadows. It's a little wild, a little unsettling, which I find so appealing. Baskin reminds me of Paula Rego, in the way he finds darkness and beauty in the everyday. Art, for me, is never about answers, but about opening up new questions.