To Lynn Ward 1976

Jay Moon made this etching, probably in 1976, and dedicated it to Lynn Ward. The image hovers somewhere between portraiture and dreamscape. The stark contrast between the light and dark areas, achieved through the etching process, creates an intriguing atmosphere. Looking closely, the texture is built up from tiny, almost frantic lines, especially in the hair of the figure looming above, like a ghost or a memory. It makes me think of the way we build up layers in our minds. The man below seems almost weighed down by the other figure, perhaps lost in thought. The marks around the mouth and hands are much more decisive, conveying a sense of worry. It feels like I'm peering into a very personal, perhaps even painful moment. But isn't that what art often does? It invites us to feel, to question, and to connect with something beyond the surface. You could say that Max Beckmann also explored similar psychological depths in his paintings, using distortions and stark contrasts to convey the complexities of human experience.