Delaware Barn 1999

Elizabeth Bright’s “Delaware Barn” is made with the traditional printmaking technique of lithography. Here, the artist likely drew her composition onto a flat stone or metal plate with a greasy crayon or ink. Bright has made the most of the lithographic medium. The tonal range is striking, from solid blacks to delicate greys, made with careful hatching. This gives the image a crisp graphic quality, with the barn rendered as a series of flattened planes. You can see the influence of American Modernism in the clean lines and simplified forms. The print also speaks to the social context of its creation. Barns are obviously essential to agriculture, but they also represent a connection to the land and a slower way of life. It invites reflection on the relationship between rural traditions and modern art. By appreciating the material processes and cultural context, we can fully recognize the artistic and social significance of “Delaware Barn.”