Frightened Witches c. 1961

Caroline Wogan Durieux made this print, 'Frightened Witches,' using a layered approach, with thin strokes of ink building into a complex, textured surface. The dark palette gives it a slightly somber feel, but the pink adds a playful, almost mischievous touch. Looking closely, you can see how Durieux used different tools to create this image. The lines are both delicate and forceful, suggesting a process of both control and chance. There is a particular area, right in the center, where the pink lines seem to dance around the darker areas. It's as if the witches are trying to peek out from behind a veil, and it really captures the essence of the title. Durieux’s work reminds me a little of some of Kiki Smith's prints, in the way she combines a sense of humor with deeper, sometimes darker, themes. Art, after all, is an ongoing conversation, and it's fun to see how artists build on each other's ideas, creating something new and unexpected.