Parnel and Katie O'Shea 1936

Kyra Markham made this lithograph called Parnel and Katie O’Shea sometime in the mid twentieth century. You can see right away that Markham really relishes mark making. She's using line, texture and tone to create a very distinctive atmospheric depth. I like how the composition is both intimate and a little strange. It's the two figures of Parnel and Katie O’Shea of course that draw the eye, but the darkness around them is full of detail, from the textures of the cushions and drapes to the more architectural forms of the room. It feels like Markham is inviting us to slow down and contemplate all the details, to really spend time with the image. Look at the way Markham contrasts the smoothness of the faces with the cross-hatched lines of the clothes and furniture. She is really attuned to surface, and the tension between light and dark. It reminds me of a piece by Kathe Kollwitz, another artist who used printmaking for social commentary. The conversation between artists continues.