Rabboni c. 1890 - 1920

Will Bradley made this print, Rabboni, and wow, it’s like stepping into another world. Look at how every leaf, every blade of grass, has been meticulously carved. I can almost feel Bradley's hand moving, precise and deliberate, cutting each line, lost in the meditative rhythm of the tool. I imagine him thinking about Beardsley and the Arts and Crafts movement; swirling lines, nature and symbolism. You know, what's interesting is the way the scene is packed so full, it is almost claustrophobic. It reminds me of folk art, in a way; space is flattened. The two figures almost seem to emerge out of this dense landscape. I wonder, were they always there or did they only appear later as the artist worked? The intense pattern-making reminds me that artists are always building on each other's ideas, constantly in dialogue across time. It’s a reminder that art is never really finished, but always transforming.