Bookends 

Dan Graziano's painting, Bookends, presents us with a stack of books flanked by two bottles. One is Jagermeister, a German digestif, and the other, Johnnie Walker Black Label Scotch. While the books might suggest knowledge or history, the alcohol implies a turn toward self-medication or a desire to escape reality. The books, pressed together, and the bottles, standing sentinel, create a composition that feels both still and tense. The contrast between the promise of intellectual engagement and the allure of intoxication suggests a kind of personal, perhaps even private, struggle. The light suggests a quiet interior, a space for contemplation. Graziano’s painting reflects on the ways we seek both understanding and solace, and it invites us to consider our own choices when confronted with the complexities of life.