Wall Chart II 1974

Jim Dine made "Wall Chart II," a print, sometime in the late 20th century. What strikes me first is the grid, that organizational structure that allows for both control and the possibility of infinite variation. The texture in each square is so different; some are smooth, some mottled, some look like he used a dry brush, others a sponge. And then those words, handwritten in a casual, off-the-cuff script. It all feels so personal. Look at the square in the upper left corner with the word "blue." The ground is grey, but there's the faintest hint of blue near the top of the square. It's like a whisper of color, just enough to make you think about the word "blue" and all the feelings and associations that come with it. It reminds me a bit of some of Jasper Johns' word paintings but with a more playful, less austere feel. Dine's work always has this sense of vulnerability, this sense of reaching out and making contact, which is interesting for a print.