Memorial 1950

"Memorial" is a 1950 print by American artist Benton Spruance (1904–1967). The artwork is notable for its bold, simplified forms and monochromatic color scheme, echoing the reductive aesthetic of Abstract Expressionism. The print’s stark contrast of bright yellow against white emphasizes a sense of starkness, perhaps alluding to the somberness of the subject matter, memorialization. The composition, featuring a central oval form flanked by two figures, suggests a profound sense of loss and contemplation.