Exhibition 1947

Dorr Bothwell made this color screenprint, titled "Exhibition," sometime in the mid-20th century. The palette is restrained, mostly olive green, brick red, and slate blue; a harmonious balance that gives the piece its distinctive, mid-century vibe. The print is an intricate dance of abstract shapes. Notice the slender red form on the left, resembling a highly stylized tool. The texture is flat, a quality achieved through the screen-printing process, but each shape hums with its own energy. I find my eye drawn to the white, crescent-shaped eye. It sits atop a table-like shape that seems to balance the whole composition. This feels connected to the work of Joan Miró, but maybe with a touch more restraint, a more subdued sense of humor. It invites us to contemplate the nature of perception, perspective, and the playful possibilities of abstraction.