Miles and Joanna 1972

Curator: Barry Flanagan, who lived from 1941 to 2009, created this intimate etching entitled "Miles and Joanna." Look at the linear simplicity! Editor: It feels unfinished, almost dreamlike. Like a half-remembered snapshot. Is this how the subconscious renders portraits? Curator: The sketch-like quality emphasizes the labor of mark-making. The process of etching, biting into the metal, feels immediate and unfiltered. Editor: I see what you mean, the raw lines capture an essence, not just an appearance. The moon detail on Joanna's chest is a nice touch, a symbol, a fragment. Curator: These raw lines invite us to reflect on printmaking as a medium. The labor involved in creating multiples. Editor: Ultimately it's the human element that shines through, isn't it? The connection, or perhaps the disconnection, between Miles and Joanna. Curator: An insightful perspective, capturing the essence of this material object. Editor: Indeed, seeing this has made me curious about all the etched emotional landscapes in Flanagan's other work.