Plate II (Deska) 1962

Jirí Balcar made this print, "Plate II (Deska)", in 1962, and it's all about simple shapes and textures. Look at how Balcar used the printmaking process to create these two dark rectangles stacked on top of each other. The textures are what get me going. There's a kind of roughness to the black ink, a graininess that makes you want to reach out and touch it, even though you definitely shouldn't! Notice that horizontal mark cutting across the top rectangle, like a deliberate smudge. I find myself wondering what tool he used, or how he wiped away the ink to get that effect. It's like a little window into his process, his hand at work. For me, this print speaks to the legacy of abstraction, thinking of artists like Rothko, maybe, where simple forms carry big emotional weight. But Balcar's version feels more raw and immediate, and that's what I love about it. It's a reminder that art is always a conversation, with each artist bringing their own voice and perspective to the table.