Untitled (Skull) 1981

This is a black and white print of a skull made by Miguel Cervantes. Look how the artist coaxes light from the darkness, building form with delicate, grey tones. I imagine Cervantes carefully layering ink, wiping away excess, and reworking the image. Printmaking can be a real dance between control and accident. I wonder what Cervantes was thinking about while making this? Death, of course, but maybe also form and light. I see echoes of older masters like Goya in the dramatic contrast. Notice the way the artist renders the texture of the bone, almost like a landscape. That rough surface makes me think about the physicality of the medium. Each mark contributes to the emotional weight of the piece. Ultimately, artists like Cervantes are in an ongoing conversation with those that came before them. They are embracing ambiguity and uncertainty, allowing for multiple interpretations of familiar imagery.