Death of the Laureate 1957

Leonard Baskin’s ‘Death of the Laureate’ is a circular image made with ink on paper. It’s all about the push and pull between light and shadow, like a dance of clarity and mystery. The dark ink feels thick in places, like it’s been layered on with real intention. You can almost see the hand of the artist moving across the page, each stroke deliberate. The contrast between the stark black lines and the bare paper creates a powerful tension. Look at the head of the figure; the lines are so dense, they seem to weigh down the figure, pulling them into despair. There is something about the way that Baskin uses these marks that reminds me of Goya. It's raw and emotional. Art isn’t about neat answers; it's a conversation, and Baskin is really saying something here, about the weight of words, and their ultimate failure.