To Lynn Ward 1976

This monochromatic etching titled ‘To Lynn Ward’ was made by Jay Moon in 1976. I imagine Moon inking the plate, wiping it back, and running it through the press - each action so deliberate, so intimate. The process itself feels like a ritual, a dance between artist and material. The image is dominated by two heads – one above the other. Look at the lower face in the foreground: a weathered man, a smoker perhaps, holding his cigarette to his mouth. His stare is intense, reflective. Above him, another face emerges, wilder, more ethereal. I get a sense of Moon delving into the depths of human experience, layering the psychological complexities of inner experience. The etched lines create texture and depth. It's as if the artist is building up layers of memory and emotion, scratching them into the surface. I'm reminded of other artists who explored similar territories of self and identity, such as Paula Rego or Francisco Goya. It's a powerful thing, this conversation across time, artists building upon each other's visions, each adding their own unique voice to the chorus.