Floating School Girl 

Charles Blackman made "Floating School Girl" using screen printing, a process capable of creating bold and flat areas of color. The effect is that of a flattened, almost graphic image. Screen printing usually involves creating a stencil and then using a squeegee to press ink through a mesh onto the surface. This technique is often associated with commercial art and pop art. Here, the effect is almost dreamlike, and evokes a sense of floating and detachment; this mood is amplified by the subtle blending of hues within each block of color, giving the image depth. It also raises questions about the role of labor in art. Screen printing is often seen as a more mechanical process than painting, but it still requires skill and attention to detail. Paying attention to the materials and processes that artists use can help us understand their work on a deeper level. Blackman’s choice of screen printing emphasizes the accessibility and modernity of his vision.