#17: La Luna (The Moon) 2008

This linocut, titled '#17: La Luna (The Moon)', by Marina Pallares is a small artwork awash with tiny stars and big ideas! Pallares uses stark black and white to build the image; a monochromatic punch that really grabs your attention. The cutting technique itself is so present here. Look at the way the white ink sits on the black paper. It's almost like a dance of precision and chance, a real testament to the hands-on process of printmaking. The moon-faced figure on the swing, suspended in a starry night, is a beautiful example of how texture can bring a flat surface to life. Check out the detail of the hatch marks and the subtle shifts from light to shadow; it's an all-over composition. There's something playful but powerful in Pallares’s print; a little like a visual poem. I'm reminded of Francisco Goya’s etchings. It’s as if they’re both using the graphic nature of print to highlight the drama and tension of human experience.