Totem 1982

Will Barnet's "Totem" is likely a serigraph, a type of print made by forcing ink through a screen. The resulting image is flat, with areas of solid color and sharp outlines. The process has a direct effect on the artwork's aesthetic. Each color would need a separate stencil, and the artist would need to apply each layer with precision. Because of the amount of work involved, serigraphy is often used for commercial purposes like posters. Yet in this case, it serves to create an intimate image of domestic life. Barnet carefully orchestrates a muted palette and geometric elements to create a composition of formal balance. He flattens the image into stacked planes, with a woman reading at her desk, a white cat resting below, and two crows perched above. The result has a handmade, artisanal quality. By elevating this process, and engaging with a tradition rooted in commercial art, Barnet challenges hierarchies of labor and creativity. In doing so, he elevates the everyday to the level of art.