Untitled (Abstraction) 1948

This untitled abstraction was made by John Hultberg using lithography. I love how the stark contrast creates a kind of visual push-and-pull, doesn't it? It’s all about process, about how one mark leads to another. The texture here is so interesting; you can almost feel the graininess of the lithographic stone. Look at how the dark areas aren't just flat—they're built up with tiny, energetic marks. And then there are these sharp, white shapes cutting through, creating a real sense of depth and tension. The way the light and dark play off each other gives it this moody, almost dreamlike quality. That lower area with the marks suggesting fingers or roots is particularly intriguing, isn't it? It grounds the abstraction, making it feel like something almost recognizable. Hultberg’s work reminds me a little of the early Abstract Expressionists, like Franz Kline, in its boldness. But there’s also something uniquely his own, a kind of quiet poetry amidst the chaos. Art's always a conversation, right? And Hultberg’s definitely adding something special to it.