Bad News c. 20th century

"Bad News" is a striking photogravure by Edmund Stirling, an artist known for his masterful depictions of everyday life. Created around the 20th century, the image captures a solitary figure shrouded in shadow, seated in a dimly lit interior. The figure's posture and the sense of isolation evoke a feeling of melancholy and contemplation. The use of chiaroscuro, with strong contrasts of light and dark, adds to the mood of mystery and emphasizes the subject's obscured features. Stirling's photogravure technique, a complex process that involved exposing a photographic image onto a metal plate, resulted in a high-quality, rich print. This intimate yet evocative piece invites viewers to contemplate the nature of solitude and the weight of unspoken emotions.