Richard Wilt's 'Lunar Probe No. 24' (1968)

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Richard Wilt's Lunar Probe No. 24 (1968) captures the awe and ambition of the 1960s Space Race through a powerful … Read more Richard Wilt's Lunar Probe No. 24 (1968) captures the awe and ambition of the 1960s Space Race through a powerful depiction of the moon’s phases. Composed of 15 individual canvases, each piece reveals a different moon phase, from full to crescent, all rendered in striking white and black oil paint against a black backdrop. Wilt’s meticulous attention to detail is evident in the textured craters, which he sculpted directly into the paint, giving each moon a tangible topography. This series reflects Wilt’s engagement with contemporary events, responding to humanity’s growing fascination with space exploration one year before the historic Apollo 11 moon landing. Through his abstracted yet hauntingly realistic moons, Wilt evokes both the mystery and excitement surrounding space, making Lunar Probe No. 24 an emblematic work of 1960s modernism and a testament to the era’s pioneering spirit. See less