By: James Groleau

Medium: Color Mezzotint
Image Size: 8 x 8 inches
Edition Size: 35

Thistle is a mezzotint by James Groleau depicting a solitary thistle plant emerging sharply from a dark, nocturnal ground. The spined green leaves and vivid purple bloom are rendered with striking clarity against a dense black field, while surrounding grasses recede into softened, rhythmic forms. The contrast between the thistle’s luminous presence and the enveloping darkness heightens a sense of quiet tension and resilience. Executed with Groleau’s characteristic control of tonal depth, the image balances botanical specificity with psychological atmosphere, emphasizing isolation, endurance, and the charged stillness of night.