Summer in Venice I 1966

Adja Yunkers made this abstract print, Summer in Venice I, sometime around 1966. The limited colour palette, yellow, brown and blue, gives the piece a graphic feel. The layering of these colours suggests a dynamic process. Look at the bold, dark brown shape dominating the lower half of the print, cutting across the watery blue. It reminds me of a boat, or maybe a shadow, heavy and grounded. Then, notice how the blue seeps into the yellow at the top, creating these organic shapes. They could be sails, or reflections in the water, or just pure, playful abstraction. There is a conversation happening between the shapes. The way the dark brown interacts with the lighter shades, it’s like a dance between control and spontaneity. This print has something of Robert Motherwell about it, but with its own distinct flavour. It invites us to embrace the joy of looking, of not knowing, and of feeling the warmth of a Venetian summer, even in abstraction.