Red Beard 1973

Jim Dine made this print, 'Red Beard', using etching. Can you imagine him, bent over the plate, carefully applying acid to create those marks? I think about Dine and his relationship to tools. He elevates ordinary objects, like this brush, to iconic status through his art. It’s not just a brush, it's a symbol of creativity, potential, and maybe even of the artist himself. The red is so rich and velvety; it begs the question: What kind of paint would that be? The bristles are dense and soft, kind of bleeding out like hair. Think about what happens when you drag a brush loaded with pigment across paper. The image is more than just a representation; it's about the act of painting itself. It’s about the artist's touch, the energy of his hand. Dine’s in conversation with other artists, too. This piece makes me think of Johns, and Hockney… How cool is that?