Magus 1987

Jacob Kainen made this intriguing print, *Magus,* using lithography and screenprint. Imagine him pulling each print, layering color upon color, shape upon shape, and seeing how it all comes together. I wonder what it was like for Kainen to make this? I imagine him feeling his way through the darks and lights, letting the composition emerge slowly as he added different colors. What is it like to have that kind of patience, to have a slow reveal? Look at the thick black lines that move in and out of the composition. I imagine them as boundaries, sometimes blocking our access, sometimes revealing what’s underneath. And the muted grays and yellows create a feeling of subdued energy, like a quiet hum. It reminds me of some of Robert Motherwell’s prints from the 60s and 70s. It makes me think about how all of these artists are in conversation with one another.