The Prayer 

Mark Beck painted ‘The Prayer’ in the late 20th century with oil on canvas. The very act of layering paint allows the artist to build up a history on the surface of the canvas. Beck's use of oil paint creates a rich and textured surface. The paint is applied in thick layers, giving the artwork a tactile quality, capturing the richness of the Black woman's headdress and clothing. The artist’s labor is evident in the way the paint is applied, in the gestures and the brushstrokes, which are almost sculptural in their build-up of impasto. Beck's style and skill, in the manipulation of materials and its connection to portraiture, elevate this artwork beyond traditional portraiture, blurring the lines between fine art and craft.