Knezna Ester (Queen Esther) 1998

Jaroslava Pesicová made this print called Knezna Ester, or Queen Esther, and it's all about the push and pull of light and dark. Look how she teases out these figures from the inky black ground, using the barest minimum of marks. It feels like conjuring. There's something kind of magical about printmaking in general, right? You're not directly applying pigment to a surface. Instead, you're using a matrix to indirectly transfer an image. In this case, the texture feels almost like velvety charcoal. The veiled figure in the foreground seems so tentative, emerging out of the darkness. Notice how Pesicová uses the weave of the cloth to imply form, the folds creating shadows and depth. It's almost as if the figure is still in the process of becoming. This piece reminds me of the work of Paula Rego, with its theatrical staging and exploration of complex psychological states. Ultimately, the power of art lies in its ability to evoke a sense of wonder and mystery.