Tobias and the Angel 1958

This is Leonard Baskin’s ‘Tobias and the Angel,’ and I can imagine him making it in his studio, wrestling with the wood, coaxing these images from the grain. Look closely at the marks he's making. These aren't just lines; they're decisions, each one a tiny battle between intention and the stubbornness of the material. I feel like he is inviting us to confront themes of mortality and redemption. The stark black and white palette strips away any distractions, leaving us face-to-face with the raw essence of human experience. Baskin’s figures are never idealized. The angel's gaunt face and skeletal frame remind us of our own vulnerability, while Tobias's vacant stare hints at the uncertainties of youth. And that dog trailing behind – is it a loyal companion or a symbol of something darker? Maybe Baskin, like all of us, was just trying to make sense of the world, one mark at a time. It reminds me that we're all just stumbling through the darkness, hoping for a little bit of light.