Gope Board c. 20th century

This Gope Board was carved by an anonymous artist, and it looks like they used wood and pigment. I’m thinking about that anonymous person making it, and the repetitive labor they went through, carving into the wood—the force and rhythm of their hand. I can really feel the texture in my fingertips! Look at how the symmetrical patterns and lines emerge from the surface of the material, creating these swirling forms that evoke both a face and something more abstract. And the color palette is so simple—the natural wood tone against the white pigment, it’s almost monochromatic. It reminds me of other artists throughout history who explored similar themes of identity and representation through repetitive marks. I'm thinking of Agnes Martin. These artists are all in conversation, pushing each other to see the world in new ways. It’s a beautiful, simple, thing.