The Long After by Gregory Dalton (Original Painting)

The Long After considers what remains when a place has outlasted its purpose. The arch is still standing, but it no longer seems to lead anywhere. Two figures occupy the stones above it without acknowledging one another. The structure gives them somewhere to stand or sit, though whatever once brought them together has passed.

A snake winds around the masonry, maintaining contact between its separate parts. It follows the stones without repairing them. Its persistent presence suggests a connection that has survived after the reasons for it have been forgotten.

Working between drawing and painting, I paid particular attention to the weight of the stones and the worn surfaces where they meet. Chalk brings a dry texture to the painted passages, softening transitions and giving the light a muted, dusty quality. Finer lines remain visible in the figures, serpents, and edges of the masonry. These changes in texture give the ruin a sense of age while keeping the surrounding sky open.

The scene holds in a long interval. The figures have somewhere to remain, but no clear task to complete. Their gestures suggest a life continuing by habit, with little expectation that anything will change.

Additional close up detail images are available upon request.