U of P 1908

Edward Penfield created "U of P" with printmaking techniques, and you can tell that this was probably made with very graphic and illustrative intentions. I like to think about printmaking and how it can be a real performance, with so many steps and opportunities for messing up. But then I look at the image and think about how the artist is in an ongoing conversation with graphic design and illustration. I think of the artist playing with a very flat and tonal palette. He probably thought of that blue and red as pops of colour that could draw in the eye of the viewer. So, I start thinking about the choices that the artist made. He probably wanted to portray athleticism and strength to show off this powerful guy. The strong outlines contribute to this effect. It makes me wonder what other artists were up to at this time. And in the end, isn’t it cool how artists have always riffed off each other, playing a game of telephone across time?