Heart of the World II, Lithograph by John Anthony Miller

"Heart of the World II" (1988), lithograph numbered 11/30, dated and signed by John Anthony Miller, unfolds a tense, dense, and complex world where every centimeter holds a presence. Despite the abundance of details, the work invites an almost ritual contemplation without overwhelming the viewer. The small, intimate format tightens the space. In the center, an androgynous figure, echoing a contemporary Christ, stands as a silent incarnation of humanity. His face is both gentle and profound. The figure carries a symbolic, childish heart in which his own might beat. One eye closes, the other opens. His hands, suspended between blessing and supplication, call for silent communion. Six fingers, with thumbs folded into the palm, subtly distort the humanity of the figure. The crown, woven with brambles and symbolic flames, traces a circle of suffering and light. The material of the lithograph gives the work a tactile physicality. The chromatic economy—between blues and grays—compels the eye