Preludia IV 1959

This is Jiri Balcar's 'Preludia IV' print, made sometime around 1954, with stark blacks and whites forming soft vertical bands that rise up the page. Looking at this, I think of the artist alone in their studio, maybe late at night, scratching away at the plate, trying to find a balance between control and letting go. There is an atmosphere of spontaneity, but also a definite plan in the way these marks are laid down. The surface has a lovely texture, and you can see how the artist built up the image layer by layer, a bit like a landscape seen through a screen. The blank black and white contrast is so striking. It reminds me a little bit of Franz Kline or maybe even some of the later work by Goya. It's like Balcar is having a conversation with all these painters, and the result is something completely unique. It really brings the artwork to life.