Carved Dog's Head c. 1937

Vera Van Voris made this drawing of a Carved Dog’s Head, using what looks like ink or watercolor on paper. Notice the absence of bright colors. It’s all earth tones, like a sepia photograph. The artist lets the brown ink bleed and flow, embracing the watery nature of the medium. The texture is smooth, the surface is matte, and the ink is translucent, allowing the whiteness of the paper to subtly shine through. The brushstrokes create soft gradations of tone, giving the head a sculptural, three-dimensional quality. Look at the dog's tongue in particular, sticking out so far it feels like a prop from a cartoon. This piece reminds me of Guston's late work, with its flat planes and graphic lines, or even Redon, both who understood that art is a visual language, a space for playful experimentation where fixed meanings dissolve into a sea of possibilities.