Holiday Greetings 1922

Pamela Bianco created this artwork, called "Holiday Greetings," using a stippling technique—a collection of tiny dots—to conjure up depth and form. I'm struck by the way the books and the flowers almost share the same weight; the objects are not quite there, but emerge slowly from the surface as if they've been conjured out of dust! Notice how Bianco's technique creates a very particular kind of light. It's almost as if the objects are illuminated from within rather than from any external source. My eye keeps being drawn to the way the light seems to catch on the glass, the density of dots creating a shimmering effect. Bianco's approach makes me think of Seurat but also the drawings of Agnes Martin, though in a different context. All three have an interest in breaking forms down into smaller elements, with each making a very specific kind of mark. Just as in Bianco's work, those marks have an effect on how the images are perceived. They create an environment of looking that allows our imaginations to roam freely.