In Their Keeping - Limited Edition Mezzotint & Debossing
In Their Keeping is an original mezzotint and debossing by artist Rhianna Catt. The plate itself is so the wings burst from the frame, allowing the image to be debossed directly into the paper - adding subtle depth and a sculptural quality to the print.
At the heart of In Their Keeping lies a quiet tension between care and control. A pair of human hands cradles a fragile young raven, a symbol and gesture of protection. Yet the scene is crowded by circling adult ravens, their presence both watchful and restless. The question becomes: who is truly responsible for this young life? Are the hands offering refuge, or have they taken something that was never theirs to hold?
This work reflects on our uneasy relationship with the natural world. Our desire to nurture and to save, and the hubris that can accompany it. The ravens’ gaze mirrors our own, questioning where the boundaries lie between guardianship and interference, empathy and ownership. In the delicate light of the mezzotint, that uncertainty is left unresolved, inviting us to consider what it really means to keep something and what is lost in the act of keeping.
