Peter c. 1949

James V. Harvey made this print called Peter, and like any good print, it's all about the process! The etching is scratchy and lively, not just describing a face but building a world around it. You can see the hand of the artist in every line. The limited palette of greens and blues gives it a ghostly, ethereal feel. There's a lot of cross-hatching, especially in the figure's chest area, which creates a rich, velvety texture. It makes you want to run your fingers over the surface to see if you can feel the grooves. That second set of eyes on the left-hand side... Is it a symbol of seeing beyond the surface, or a hint of inner turmoil? Harvey, who died quite young, reminds me a bit of Bill Traylor, who also fearlessly explored the human condition through deceptively simple forms. Art isn’t about easy answers; it’s about the ongoing conversation and exchange of ideas.