Marine Images 1949

Boris Margo's "Marine Images" presents us with an evocative dance of aquatic forms rendered through the collagraph printmaking process. The stark contrast of light and shadow casts the mind into the primordial depths of the sea, a realm teeming with life and mystery. Here, fragmented shapes evoke sea creatures and marine plants, all interlinked. These are not mere representations but archetypes, echoing the ancient artistic traditions that depicted marine life in symbolic terms. Consider, for instance, the ubiquitous image of the fish across cultures: from early Christian symbolism to its role in mythology. Margo, consciously or not, taps into this collective memory. The shapes, while abstract, stir something primal within us, mirroring the way the sea itself evokes feelings of both wonder and unease. This image invites us to contemplate the fluid and ever-changing nature of existence, mirroring the depths of our own subconscious. The ocean has always held a certain allure, representing the source of life and the unknown.