Quadrangular Passionflower 1984

Jim Dine made this etching, Quadrangular Passionflower, with a metal plate and a needle. Look at how the lines scratch and swarm, like the plant life is fighting to take over the whole scene. I can almost feel Jim Dine bending over the plate, pressing into it, scraping away at the surface. I bet he was thinking about the old masters while he did it. There's something so tender and awkward about the drawing of these plants. I imagine Dine scrutinizing the passionflower, trying to capture its strange beauty, and then letting go. I can see the plant's tendrils, like they’re reaching out, grabbing at the air. And the petals, kind of droopy and sad. It reminds me of other works by Dine, like his hearts and bathrobes, where he takes everyday objects and turns them into these personal, emotional symbols. I see him having a conversation with artists like Matisse and Picasso, all working with simple lines to express something big. It is a reminder that art is ongoing and ever-changing.