"Shadow Identity" Minimalist Modernist Artist Proof Lithograph by Jim Berry

The artist's proof presents an enigmatic black silhouette, reminiscent of a cut-out Chinese shadow, set against a faded background similar to parchment. Concordances and inspirations connect artists. The piece before us leans towards minimalist and modernist semi-abstract styles, notably echoing Hernando Ruiz Ocampo or the American artist Alexander Calder’s "Les Folles de Saché." Beyond imitation, it is a true exploration of identity. The figure's exaggerated, dynamic limbs capture a moment of transition—one leg outstretched while the other appears mid-motion. The artist’s choice to omit the head, a traditional focal point of human identity, shifts our focus to the language of the body. By not representing a specific individual, the artist suggests that this figure could be anyone, just as it could be everyone. This approach provokes a paradoxical reaction: we are simultaneously willing to identify something personal while realizing that this figure is, in fact, a symbol of the shared