Ancestors 1953

Dorothy Dehner made this print titled 'Ancestors' in 1953. The stark contrast between the black ink and the white paper is so striking! It’s like a conversation happening right before your eyes. You know, there's something about black and white art that just strips everything down to its essence. The way Dehner carves out these figures with such bold, graphic lines... it's all about shape and form, isn't it? It reminds me that artmaking is a process, a dance between intention and accident. Look at how she repeats and varies the shapes. Each figure seems to have its own story, its own personality, even though they're all made from the same basic elements. It's about rhythm, about finding the right balance between chaos and control. Dehner's work reminds me a little of Louise Bourgeois, especially her use of totemic forms and her exploration of personal history. They both understood how art could be a way of working through emotions, of making sense of the past. But ultimately, art is a space for ambiguity, and I think that's a strength.