The Red Hat

Comment

Comment by Resident Curator on April 10, 2015 at 3:30pm

Curator’s Comments: 

 

The Red Hat is a quirky image, full of expression with fairly minimal rendering.  I like the black and white intaglio print better than the full color encaustic work of the same title because there is a certain irony or humor referencing color that doesn’t exist. The piece is somewhat more understated visually, while easily conveying personality. The elliptical tilt of the hat juts out into the center and left of the plate, balancing the composition’s visual weight.  The darker grays (assuming aquatints) also set up a nice figure ground relationship. Patience is an equally enjoyable and faintly idiosyncratic etching. The levitating heads off of the figures’ shoulders make they appear as doll parts, or deconstructed mannequins, as they faces lack chiaroscuro and anatomical definition.  The counter tilt of their heads suggests something of an orchestration- choreographed or synched movement in response to another force.  The title conversely brings to mind an emotional fortitude or serenity.   These are very interesting pieces, as they are simple, but hold the viewers attention.