Black Swans 1953

Maurice R. Bebb, a painter and printmaker, made this arresting image of black swans using an interesting combination of flat areas and subtle tonal shifts. I imagine him carefully considering each layer of colour, starting perhaps with the dark, brooding green of the background, then building up the blues and greens of the water with thin washes. Look closely, and you can almost feel the texture of the paper. The swans themselves are so graphic, made up of dark tones, while the orange beaks create an attractive contrast. I admire Bebb’s attention to detail, and the way he captured a sense of movement and light. The overall effect is both peaceful and a little ominous, like a dream you might have after a long day of painting. It's a reminder that painting is always evolving as artists share ideas across time, inspiring each other's creativity.