Close-Up of Crater Copernicus 1966

This black and white photograph of the moon’s surface, showing a close-up of the Crater Copernicus, was taken by NASA, though I think of it as a collaborative artwork. The approach to mark making here is less about representation and more about documentation. The physicality of the subject matter—the moon's surface—is starkly revealed through texture and contrast, and the lack of atmosphere. The deep blacks are interrupted by the highlights, casting long shadows and creating a sense of three-dimensionality. In the lower third of the photograph there are these swirling patterns of shadow and light. It’s almost painterly. This image reminds me of the work of Vija Celmins, particularly her drawings of the night sky, where she meticulously renders the subtle variations in tone and texture to evoke a sense of vastness and awe. The crater, like Celmins' stars, invites contemplation on the nature of existence, and the ongoing conversations between art and science, exploration and imagination.