Zeus and Io 1972

Frank Mason conjured this scene of Zeus and Io with sweeping brushstrokes and a muted palette, a world of shadowy figures emerging from darkness. I imagine him, brush in hand, coaxing these forms into being, losing them, finding them again. There’s a ghostly quality to the figures, an unfinished feel that’s deeply evocative. You can feel the artist’s struggle, the push and pull of intention and chance. Was he thinking about Titian, or Correggio, as he worked? Did he want to ground the old myths in a present-day reality? The creamy whites and subtle grays create a sense of ethereal beauty, while the darker tones hint at the drama and tragedy unfolding. Look at the way he’s suggested the form with just a few strokes of white—that’s where the magic happens. Painters are always talking to each other, across centuries, riffing on the same themes, finding new ways to make them their own. In this piece, Frank Mason embraces that conversation, reminding us that painting is a living, breathing thing, full of possibility and open to endless interpretation.