Stop: The Silent Scream

This striking Fine Art Print on Paper by Maria Esther Panesso Mercado, titled "Silent Plea," is a potent example of contemporary figurative art dedicated to social commentary. The artwork features a kneeling Black woman, rendered primarily in deep grays and blacks, holding a large stop sign with the single, bold word "STOP" painted in red. The woman's firm posture and determined gaze channel the artist's commitment to narratives of strength, dignity, and the necessary battle against injustice—themes central to Maria's work and her advocacy for marginalized communities.