The Plant 

Sigmar Polke made "The Plant," a work with no firm date, that blends screen printing and watercolor. Polke was born in Silesia, a region marked by shifting national affiliations and the displacement of peoples during and after World War II. Polke's personal history deeply influenced his artistic approach, often exploring themes of identity, perception, and the nature of representation itself. In "The Plant," we see his characteristic use of Ben-Day dots, a technique borrowed from commercial printing, combined with the fluidity of watercolor. This juxtaposition challenges the traditional hierarchy between high and low art, and the dots make you look closely, inviting you to question what is there, and what is not. Polke once said, "I don't differentiate between things. I accept everything." This openness is evident in his willingness to experiment with different styles and materials. "The Plant" reflects Polke's broader commentary on post-war German society, using abstraction to address complex themes of identity and reality.