Untitled 1948

Herbert Bayer made this “Untitled” artwork with pencil and airbrush, maybe around 1940? I can only imagine the act of painting: it shifted and emerged through trial, error, and intuition. Looking at the image, I sympathize with the artist and imagine what it might have been like to create this piece. What might he have been thinking when he made it? Notice how the surface is smooth and unmarked in some areas while others reveal the texture of the pencil and the subtle gradations achieved with the airbrush. The shapes cast shadows on one another, creating depth and dimension. There are some funny curves and bulbous teardrop shapes. It makes me think of the work of other painters like Joan Miró or Yves Tanguy, who were also exploring biomorphic forms and surrealist imagery around the same time. It's all part of this great conversation between artists. I see painting as a form of embodied expression that embraces ambiguity and uncertainty, allowing for multiple interpretations.