Head and Bones 1980

Susan Rothenberg made this print, 'Head and Bones', using woodcut. This unsettling image of fragmented remains, hovering between representation and abstraction, asks us to reconsider the role of the artist in the late 20th century. Rothenberg emerged at a time when painting was declared dead by many critics who believed it could no longer offer meaningful commentary on contemporary life. Breaking from the clean lines of Minimalism, Rothenberg embraced a raw, expressive style that recalled the gestural energy of Abstract Expressionism, but with a renewed focus on recognizable imagery. She took an intuitive approach, allowing the process of creation to guide the final image. Her work challenged the prevailing art market which was dominated by male artists. To fully appreciate Rothenberg's contributions, we can explore the critical debates of the 1970s and consider the social conditions that shaped her artistic production.