My Nine Days in a Week 1966

Jirí Balcar made this etching, My Nine Days in a Week, in 1966. It's a black and white print divided into nine rectangular sections each containing sketchy figures, letters, or abstract marks. The artist uses a pared-down approach. The etched lines feel tentative, almost like they are searching for the right form. The way the female figures are rendered in such a reduced manner reminds us that artmaking is as much about what you leave out as what you put in. I'm particularly drawn to the figure in the center panel. It's almost entirely filled in with dense, chaotic lines, which create an inky void. This dark figure, surrounded by more lightly rendered forms, is like a concentrated burst of energy, a reminder that even the simplest of gestures can carry a lot of weight. In a way, Balcar’s piece has echoes of Guston’s dark forms, a similar approach to representing figures while conjuring emotional states. Art is an ongoing conversation, and this print invites us to join in.