Formes, Ombres, Joie c. 1940

Jean Negulesco made this print, "Formes, Ombres, Joie", using black ink on paper. Negulesco, born in Romania, worked in Paris and then the United States, and his own journey across different cultures and identities is in some ways reflected in the art deco style of this piece. The title translates to "Forms, Shadows, Joy," and there's an optimism in the abstract, musical forms depicted. The guitar, the sheet music, and even the vase of flowers seem to dance together, yet there is a marked contrast between light and shadow. Does this contrast hint at the emotional depth beneath the surface of joy? Negulesco himself had a multifaceted career, also working as a film director. Perhaps this print, with its sharp angles and dynamic composition, can be seen as a study in contrasts, between stillness and movement, joy and shadow, identity and place. It invites us to consider how these dualities enrich our lives.