Ancestors 1954

Dorothy Dehner made this print, titled *Ancestors*, in 1954. The series of figures is made up of geometric shapes and curving lines. In the aftermath of the Second World War, artists across the West were searching for new visual languages to express their visions. Dehner’s generation was deeply impacted by the war. The devastation of Europe had made the traditional emphasis on realistic representation seem irrelevant, if not obscene. The forms in *Ancestors* recall ancient or tribal art, yet they are rendered in a bold, abstract style that suggests a modern sensibility. By drawing on archaic cultural forms, the image can comment on the timeless nature of human experience. To fully understand this work, we might explore the cultural context of mid-century American art, and the influence of institutions such as the New York School on artists like Dehner. Careful historical research can deepen our appreciation of art as a reflection of its time.