Roads of the Earth We Follow You. Authority over All the Signs of the Earth 1957

Benton Spruance made this lithograph in one color, something of a rusty red. It’s like he’s trying to get at the basic elements of a story - a few knights, horses, a dog, and a whole lot of open space. Look at the way the figures emerge from the white of the paper. The marks are scrubby and uneven, revealing the process. A single color creates a sense of drama, and the limited palette heightens the emotional impact. It's not about precision, it's about getting the feeling across. There's a kind of beautiful brutality to it. The dog is a stand out, a sort of dark, symbolic presence, so close to the front of the picture plane. Spruance reminds me a little of Kathe Kollwitz, though her work is often a bit bleaker. Both artists share an interest in printmaking and a commitment to art as a vehicle for social commentary, using the bare minimum of detail to convey feeling. Art isn’t about perfection, it’s about embracing the unexpected.