Keep Moving II

Description

Jane Dickson's "Keep Moving II" is an ominous image fraught with ambiguity. It is unclear whether the image shows the aftermath of an accident or an arrest; the title could refer to either. Here the artist not only presents a slice of life from her urban world, but also stresses the means by which she makes her image. The coarse aquatint grain that the printmaker used creates a roughly textured, atmospheric surface that veils form. The steep vantage point (resulting from the location of the artist's studio loft in Times Square in New York City) banishes detail, increases the drama of the scene, and heightens the viewer's emotions. Further contributing to the emotional power of the image is the strange luminosity porvided by the lurid color--suggestive ofneon lights--and the glare of headlights. Dickson subtly manipulates our reactions to a troublesome scene: by creating a sense of visual excitement, she entices us as onlookers; yet by offering meager information about her created world, she denies us complete access to the implied action.