Incubus 1962

Robert Mallary made this compelling print, 'Incubus,' using tones of black. Look at the vertical marks cascading down the surface; you can almost imagine Mallary working on the plate, pulling the tool down and down, building up layers of texture and tone. I feel a deep connection to artists who explore these kinds of stark, pared-down compositions. What was he thinking, I wonder, as he made each mark? Did he feel the weight of the black ink, the way it seems to absorb light rather than reflect it? It's like he's wrestling with something internal, trying to give form to a feeling. It reminds me of the work of other artists, like Pierre Soulages, who were also fascinated by the possibilities of black and its ability to evoke depth, shadow, and the unknown. Artists are always in conversation with one another, building on the ideas and experiments of those who came before. This piece is about feeling, not seeing, and about trusting the process, embracing the ambiguity and allowing meaning to emerge from the act of creation itself.