Amorphic Forms 1944

Editor: Here we have William Baziotes's "Amorphic Forms" from 1944, done in watercolor. There’s a fluidity to the shapes that feels almost like looking at cells under a microscope, yet they’re oddly suggestive of figures. What strikes you most about it? Curator: Well, considering Baziotes's historical context, the materiality speaks volumes. The use of watercolor in this era, particularly amidst the burgeoning Abstract Expressionist movement, presents a fascinating dichotomy. These artists were influenced by psychoanalysis, so consider what Baziotes gains—and potentially relinquishes—by choosing watercolor. The perceived delicacy of watercolor as a medium – compared to, say, oil – raises the question: Does this reflect on ideas of fragility within post-war anxieties or personal internal struggle? Editor: That's interesting. I hadn’t really considered the medium as a deliberate choice reflecting the mood of the era. So the watercolor, which might seem light and airy, could actually be suggesting a deeper, more complicated message of fragility? Curator: Precisely! Consider too, the production of art materials at the time. What limitations or freedoms did an artist have when choosing to work with watercolor? Wartime constraints might impact availability, influencing artistic choices. Furthermore, we must investigate the relationship between these organic forms and mass production during that period. Are these 'amorphic forms' in contradiction or harmony with mechanized modes? Editor: So by looking closely at the materials and how the painting was made, we can understand more about the social forces that were influencing Baziotes, and other artists like him, at the time. Curator: Exactly. And not just influence, but also how those materials actively shaped the work, maybe even dictated it. Editor: I never really thought about the material limitations having an impact on the message like that. This way of thinking really opens things up. Curator: Indeed. Every brushstroke is then evidence, is it not?