Charade 1953

Curator: Here we have Dorothy Dehner's etching, titled "Charade". It's a small plate, just under 5x7 inches, currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: My first impression is of fragmented dreams, you know, a sort of subconscious landscape pulled apart and reassembled. There's a real tension between order and chaos here. Curator: Exactly. Dehner uses sharp geometric forms, juxtaposed with fluid, almost organic shapes. Note the contrast; these elements create a dynamic visual experience. The texture, achieved through the etching process, also enhances this feel. Editor: Absolutely. It's as if she's playing with the viewer, daring us to find meaning in these abstract forms. And is she asking us to consider identity, too, through fragmented signs and symbols? Curator: Perhaps "Charade" hints at the constructed nature of reality itself. Or maybe it's just a game, a playful exploration of shape and form. Editor: Ultimately, I find it's a thought-provoking little piece that invites lingering contemplation.