Red Bamboo 

Susan Rothenberg created this artwork titled Red Bamboo using woodcut printmaking techniques. Notice the bamboo stalk, a symbol deeply rooted in Asian art and culture, often representing resilience and flexibility. Its presence here is more than just botanical; it embodies a dialogue between Eastern and Western artistic traditions. Consider how bamboo appears in classical Chinese paintings, where it symbolizes moral integrity. Here, the bold red color gives it a very different energy, something more akin to the life force, or 'élan vital,' as Bergson would say. The grid below could symbolize an ordered Western tradition, almost being struck by the power and life of the bamboo stalk. The recurring motifs reflect our subconscious desire to connect with primal forces. They remind us that art is not just about what we see, but about the emotional and psychological resonance embedded within. The image engages viewers on a deep, subconscious level, calling upon the viewer's own experiences and subconscious understandings of the symbols it presents. These elements have resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings in different historical contexts.