Robert Longo's fascination with celestial bodies is exemplified in his charcoal drawings of the Moon. These works are part of his "Outward and Visible Signs" series, where he meticulously renders astronomical subjects to explore themes of perception and the sublime.
In "Moon," Longo employs charcoal on mounted paper to depict the Moon with striking realism, capturing its craters and surface variations and the interplay of light and shadow. Longo's technique involves layering charcoal to achieve deep blacks and erasing to reveal highlights, creating a luminous effect that brings the celestial subject to life. This piece reflects his interest in visualising inaccessible objects, as he once expressed:
“ I have this fantasy that when I die, and my soul is floating out there, I’ll get to see the Earth. I’ll get to see the Moon, the stars. Then, I said why the fuck wait? I’ll do it myself. I want to make the stuff I can’t see. „