Image 1960

Vilen Barsky made this striking image with watercolor and ink, materials closely associated with the tradition of fine art, and also with illustration. The watercolor is applied in loose washes, creating a mottled, atmospheric ground. Onto this, Barsky has added a bold black outline, full of character. You can almost feel the pressure of the artist's hand as he made the lines, at some points thick and assertive, at others hesitant and thin. The ink appears to sit on top of the watercolor, in places bleeding into the soft texture of the paper. It's a fascinating combination that invites questions of technique and artistic intention. The directness of the artist's touch and the relatively unmediated character of the ink underscore the artist's vision, and how the materials themselves can be active participants in shaping meaning, challenging the distinction between fine art and craft.