Red Barrell 1988

Eyvind Earle created this image, "Red Barrel," using serigraphy, a printmaking technique also known as screen-printing. Serigraphy lends itself to bold, flat colors and sharp outlines, as we can see in the vivid red of the pot and the stylized forms of the plants and birds. The process involves creating a stencil on a fine mesh screen, then pushing ink through the open areas onto the paper beneath. It’s a technique with roots in industrial production, adapted here for artistic expression. What’s interesting is the labor-intensive nature of serigraphy. Each color requires a separate stencil and printing pass, demanding careful registration to build up the final image. It’s a process that values precision and control, allowing for meticulous layering of graphic elements, and requiring technical mastery to achieve Earle’s crisp and vibrant aesthetic. Earle’s choice of serigraphy speaks to the democratization of art, highlighting the value of skilled handwork in a world increasingly dominated by mass production, and blurring the boundaries between fine art and craft.