Newspaper Wall Rack 1941

Nicholas Amantea created this 'Newspaper Wall Rack' using what seems to be watercolor and pencil on paper. The colour palette is mostly muted earthy tones and the piece focuses on intricate details, especially within the embroidery effect of the textiles which is a fascinating process. The material aspects of this work are super interesting, there's this great tension between the flat, almost graphic rendering of the overall piece, and the illusion of depth and texture in the carved wooden frame and the fabric. It’s as though he’s trying to reconcile different modes of representation. Look at the way the light hits the edges of the leaves in the frame. It's not quite photorealistic, but it suggests a real object in space. Then, there are the patterns on the fabric, which are so detailed, as if he is emulating the work of someone else. Amantea's piece reminds me of the work of contemporary artists like Faith Ringgold, who also mix flat and dimensional elements in their work. There is a real sense of play in this image, embracing multiple possibilities instead of fixating on one perfect representation.