O Sea Which Swells in Our Dreams [recto] 1960

Editor: Benton Spruance's 1960 charcoal drawing and print, "O Sea Which Swells in Our Dreams," presents a rather ambiguous figure. Its swirling abstraction feels both chaotic and deeply introspective. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The title itself, "O Sea Which Swells in Our Dreams," is so evocative, isn’t it? It acts as an immediate guide. I think Spruance masterfully taps into the sea as a potent symbol. Historically, the sea often represents the unconscious, the chaotic, and the feminine. This figure seems to be emerging from or perhaps drowning within those turbulent waters. Notice how the charcoal strokes themselves mimic the flow and force of waves, blurring the line between the figure and the surrounding environment. Is it a portrait, or a landscape of the mind? Editor: I hadn't considered the sea representing the unconscious! I was so focused on the figure that I missed how the surrounding charcoal really evokes water. Curator: Consider the pose of the figure, too. Are those arms raised in supplication, or are they flailing? The lack of distinct facial features enhances the ambiguity; it invites viewers to project their own emotional landscape onto the figure. Spruance uses familiar imagery, such as the draped figure, which we have long associated with classical sculpture, to further investigate interior emotional states. Editor: It's interesting how Spruance blends figuration and abstraction. It reminds me of how our dreams often warp reality, too. I came in thinking it was just a melancholic figure study, but now I see this rich symbolic layer, which completely changes the mood of the artwork. Curator: Exactly! And in the symbolism, we confront not only individual dreams, but a collective consciousness, too. We find enduring images that surface again and again. It highlights the continuity of human emotion across different times and contexts. What seemed unique is universal; it speaks of the collective human experience, using recurring symbols. Editor: That is true. This piece offers more to see, think about, and learn from than I initially thought! Thanks so much.