Skyhawk, No.III 1965

Benton Spruance created "Skyhawk, No. III" using lithography, a printmaking process involving drawing with a greasy medium on a stone or metal plate, then inking and pressing it onto paper. The stark contrast between the dense blacks and the untouched white of the paper is a visual metaphor, hinting at the dynamic tension between freedom and constraint. Notice the almost violent application of the lithographic ink. The gestural marks suggest the skyhawk's powerful movements, capturing not just its form but its essence. Lithography allows for a degree of immediacy, mirroring the artist's hand. While the print might appear spontaneous, it's also the product of careful labor. Spruance's choice of lithography, a medium accessible for mass production, raises questions about art's role in depicting nature during an era defined by industrialization and the rise of the military-industrial complex. Ultimately, this work challenges our traditional understanding of what art can represent. It's not just about the image, but about the process, the materials, and the socio-political context in which it was created.