China Ducks c. 1935

Mina Pulsifer made "China Ducks," a printed image, and what strikes me first is the flat planes of color and the grid in the background, which create a kind of abstracted space. The texture in this print is really interesting; the way the criss-cross lines of the grid contrast with the smooth, solid areas of color gives the piece a tactile quality, like you could feel the different layers and textures if you ran your hand across it. See that little patch of red near the top? It's like a tiny burst of energy, a focal point that draws your eye in and keeps you moving around the composition. It’s the only place that red exists in the entire piece. There’s a bit of Milton Avery here, maybe, in the reduction of form and that simplified palette. But Pulsifer has a graphic edge all of her own. It's not about perfection; it's about the feeling, the vibe, and the way these colors and shapes come together to create something that feels both familiar and totally unique.