Palimpsest 1951

Alfonso Ossorio made this print, titled Palimpsest, in 1951. Look at the density of marks; it reminds me of working on a painting where you keep layering and layering, not quite covering up what's underneath. You arrive somewhere unexpected. The colors are muted, blues and greens, with a touch of purple. They create a sense of depth, like looking into water. Close up, you can see how the lines are almost scribbled, energetic and free. It's like Ossorio was thinking through the act of making. The word palimpsest refers to something that has been reused or altered but still bears visible traces of its earlier form. It makes you wonder what’s hidden beneath the surface here, what was there before these layers of color and line? Ossorio’s work from this time shares a sensibility with some of Dubuffet’s, that kind of raw, immediate mark-making. These artists aren't afraid to leave things unresolved, embracing ambiguity and the endless possibilities of art.