In one of the greatest passages of western literature, Dante begins The Divine Comedy:
Midway through the journey of life, I found myself in a dark wood where the right way was lost.
For me, this lovely etching by Martin Lewis, titled Which Way? is the visual equivalent.
We all set out on life's path eager to digest the world, but there comes a point midway through the journey when we realize that the world has been quietly digesting us all along, and that it's likely to win the race.
Like Dante's dark woods, Lewis' blanket of snow covers the road and obscures the landscape. Our puny headlights are outmatched. The road ends ahead but is that a cross or a telephone pole?
I love the mood of this drawing, the fear rising in our chest from uncertainty and the lump in our throat from those stars in the sky.
This image wouldn't be nearly so meaningful if it wasn't handled so effectively. The lighting is brilliant. The control of value is extraordinary. Compare the information Lewis shares (the sharp details in the snow, for example) with the information he withholds (the silhouettes in the car).
A beautifully orchestrated piece.
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