Composition 1959

Curator: This is Asger Jorn’s "Composition," a print held in the collections of the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It has a raw, almost brutal immediacy. The etched lines convey a sense of barely contained emotion. Curator: Jorn, associated with the Cobra group, was deeply interested in the spontaneous and the subconscious. This print exemplifies his exploration of materials, pushing the boundaries of traditional printmaking techniques. Editor: The image brings to mind the archetypal "grotesque" head, a distorted and unsettling visage that has haunted art for centuries. The orange and black hues lend it an otherworldly feel. Curator: Indeed, Jorn’s engagement with automatism allowed for the unfiltered expression of inner turmoil. The labor involved, the very act of etching, reflects a physical engagement with the material. Editor: The disfigured face, the scribbled lines, seem to symbolize the fragility of the human psyche. It’s a powerful, if disturbing, exploration of the self. Curator: Exactly, it challenges the conventional notions of artistic skill, placing value on the process and the uninhibited expression of the artist. Editor: The symbolism is definitely potent, a visual echo of the anxieties of the mid-20th century. Curator: Thinking of the printing process really enriches its meaning for me. Editor: It's a haunting image that stays with you.