Prayer Images 1983

George McNeil created "Prayer Images" using lithography, a printmaking process involving drawing with grease on a stone or metal plate, sometime during his lifetime. The stark contrast of black ink on paper lends a powerful immediacy to the distorted figures. Lithography allows for a wide range of tonal variation, and McNeil exploits this to full effect. You can see the rough, almost violent application of the ink, which speaks to McNeil’s expressive style. The artist likely used lithographic crayons or washes to create texture. There is a sense of urgency, a grappling with form and emotion, embedded in the making process. McNeil was associated with abstract expressionism, a movement known for its emphasis on process and the artist's individual expression. The physical act of applying the ink, the pressure of the hand, and the subtle nuances of the lithographic process become integral to the work's meaning. It highlights the labor that goes into creating an image like this. Appreciating these choices helps us to understand the artist’s intent, bridging the gap between the visual and the conceptual.