Adam Rake Potassium Dichromate, Relief, Monotype
Adam Rake
What Remains? Los Caprichos, this series by Adam Rake, is influenced by Francisco Goya, whose work is still influential to this day. The figures in the image appear distorted and abstract, rendered in dark, textured forms. Central to the composition is a group of near-spectral human figures emerging from a murky backdrop. They seem to be caught in a dramatic or pleading gesture—one figure extends an arm as though reaching for something just beyond the frame. Deep shades of blue, red, and ochre create a haunting contrast with the pale, almost faded background.
The yellow and red tones evoke a sense of decay, hinting at an apocalyptic landscape, while the use of monotype brings out the texture and ephemeral quality of the imagery. The figures appear ensnared in an eternal moment of despair and struggle, echoing the themes of human folly, corruption, and suffering found in Goya’s Los Caprichos.
Rake’s incorporation of potassium dichromate and the relief printing technique imparts an aged, weathered quality to the piece, emphasizing what endures after time, conflict, or degradation. This work serves as both a reflection on Goya’s legacy and a commentary on contemporary human conditions.
Artist: Adam Rake
Title: What Remains? Los Caprichos (after Francisco Goya)
Medium: #2Potassium Dichromate, Relief, Monotype
Dimensions: 15 ½ x 10 ½in
Year Created: 2022
Framed under plexiglass.
POR