Two Way 1982

Richard Diebenkorn made this print, "Two Way," using etching on paper. Here, the prominent geometric shapes – particularly the square – evoke a sense of containment and order. Since antiquity, the square is more than a shape. It's the physical manifestation of the human need to create order out of chaos. Consider the architecture of ancient Roman cities, meticulously laid out on a grid, or the symbolic use of the square in Renaissance paintings to denote balance and stability. This motif reappears throughout history, adapting to different cultural needs, yet always retaining its primal association with structure. The lines themselves, so carefully etched, create not just shapes, but also a sense of the subconscious. They are at once boundaries and pathways, suggesting the hidden currents beneath the surface of our perception. The viewer is invited to engage with this play of order and mystery, and to find their own path within its intricate framework.