Black Beach c. 1955

Emilio Sanchez created "Black Beach" using monochromatic lithography. Notice the figures dressed in white, stark against the dark landscape. These figures remind me of the ancient ritualistic processions of the Mediterranean, figures draped in robes, moving between worlds. But what are these figures seeking here on this beach? White clothing, often associated with purity and mourning, appears throughout art history—from classical sculptures to modern photography. This motif taps into our subconscious, a collective memory of rites and passages. Here, this whiteness against the dark sand creates a striking contrast, perhaps embodying a struggle between opposing forces. Observe how the shadows cast by the figures give them a weight, rooting them to the land while their white garments suggest something ethereal. Thus, the symbol is in constant flux, continually shaped and reshaped by the ever-changing cultural landscape.