Spreading Spade 1981

Richard Diebenkorn created this print, "Spreading Spade," using etching and aquatint. At first glance, the symbols leap out at us: the spade, the club, both lifted from the familiar realm of playing cards. Yet, these are not mere recreations. Consider how the spade here bleeds, almost wounds itself with streaks of red, transforming it from a mere suit into something visceral. The club below, steadfast and blue, provides a stark contrast. These symbols, deeply embedded in our collective psyche, trigger subconscious associations of chance, risk, and perhaps, fate. Think back to medieval heraldry, where symbols conveyed lineage, power, and destiny. Diebenkorn taps into this primal language, updating it for a modern audience. The emotional power lies in the tension between the familiar and the distorted. It's a game we think we know, but the rules have been subtly, unsettlingly altered. These cyclical symbols resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings, engaging viewers on a subconscious level.