Storm Driver 1963

This black and white print, "Storm Driver," by John Hultberg really zings with energy. Just imagine Hultberg, armed with his tools, slashing and layering to construct this dynamic composition. The drama comes from the contrast of dark versus light, but also from the push-pull of recognizable architectural forms against chaotic, abstract brushstrokes. I see planes, buildings, and maybe even figures caught in the vortex. The thick, textured blacks and whites of the ink create a sense of depth and movement, as if the storm is actually brewing on the surface. It reminds me of other mid-century painters grappling with the urban landscape, like Franz Kline. Artists are always feeding off each other, and here, you get a sense of Hultberg being in conversation with his contemporaries. It's this exchange that makes painting so alive, so relevant, and so endlessly engaging.