Birthday Greeting 12 - 1985

Stanley William Hayter made this birthday greeting with crayon in 1975. Just look at the looping blue lines, how they confidently take up space on the paper, dancing and swirling. I can imagine Hayter holding the crayon, letting his hand move freely, almost like he’s improvising a dance on the page. The red script adds a personal touch, like a whispered message between friends. It feels intimate, doesn't it? I wonder what Jacob thought when he received this? Was he surprised by its energy, its boldness? Hayter was a master printmaker, but you can see here how his lines have a sculptural quality. It makes me think about the connections between drawing and printmaking, how one informs the other. It reminds me a bit of Twombly’s scribbles, but with a more joyful spirit. All these artists conversing across time, inspiring each other, even without knowing it.