Hurricane 1936

Eugene Morley created this print, ‘Hurricane,’ in 1938. Initially, the composition seems like a simple interior scene, but the fractured, clashing structures quickly destabilize any sense of domestic tranquility. Morley uses a high contrast between light and shadow to create a dynamic tension. Look at the stark white surfaces that abut against dark, ominous blocks, and the walls that appear to be peeling away in horizontal layers. There’s a sense of impending collapse; a visual representation of the destructive force implied in the title. The horizon line is unstable and the viewpoint ambiguous, contributing to the overall feeling of disorientation. The inclusion of a lone female figure observing the wreckage introduces an element of narrative, but this is quickly subsumed by the overwhelming structural concerns. The print could be viewed through the lens of semiotics, where each element can be seen as a signifier of a deeper, perhaps more existential anxiety. The artist's strategic use of contrasting textures and fractured forms serves not only as an aesthetic choice but also as a visual language. ‘Hurricane’ is a powerful statement on the precariousness of existence, conveyed through the deconstruction and reassembly of space itself.