Dragon Arum 1984

Jim Dine made this print, Dragon Arum, using black ink to create a stark contrast between the flora and the background. I imagine him getting into the nitty-gritty of it, really feeling the texture of the plate. The etching is so tactile; you can almost feel the scratch of the needle on the plate, translating into the final print. I see Dine working, maybe late at night, surrounded by the tools of his trade, pulling image after image, each slightly different, each telling its own story. The composition is interesting, too. The way the image pushes up and out. Dine’s definitely in conversation with other printmakers, like Elizabeth Murray. Ultimately, artists are always talking to each other through their work, picking up on ideas, riffing on themes. It's a beautiful thing, this ongoing exchange.