Rose 1975

Jay Moon made this black and white image entitled 'Rose' in 1975. You can see how he worked to extract a lighter image from a very dark background. I wonder what it was like for Jay to make this print, scraping away at the surface, revealing the portrait through a kind of reverse action. This reminds me of other artists who investigate light and dark like Rembrandt and Goya! I’m drawn to how the rose is like a delicate offering, held by the sitter. The face is bisected by light and shadow. This lends a sense of mystery. The sitter is illuminated, and the expression is both unsettling and joyful. All of these formal and compositional features work to create a sense of intensity. Isn't it interesting how artists build on one another’s work, inspiring creativity across generations?