J. de Gheyn c. 1970

This is Leonard Baskin's 'J. de Gheyn', a striking black ink image on paper. Look at those marks! They're not just lines, they're little explosions of feeling. You can almost feel the artist wrestling with the image, trying to capture something elusive. I wonder what Baskin was thinking about when he made this. Maybe he was drawn to the weight of history, the way the past lingers in our faces and bodies. This figure is caught in a kind of existential drama, a meditation on mortality and the human condition. Notice how the dense, scratchy lines create a sense of texture. It is like he's digging into the surface, unearthing something hidden beneath. And that gaze, those haunted eyes…they speak volumes without saying a word. Baskin, like other artists, is always in conversation with art history. Each artwork builds on those that came before. So, the next time you're feeling stuck or unsure, remember Baskin and his bold marks. Just keep making.