Composition Ursiem 1959

Carl Buchheister created "Composition Ursiem" using thin lines of ink or graphite on what appears to be a prepared board. The surface, with its visible imperfections and slight discoloration, suggests a support that is itself something of a cast-off. Buchheister’s delicate marks, seemingly floating above this textured ground, create a tension between the ephemeral and the concrete. The lines almost feel like exploratory gestures, mapping out a landscape of the mind. The drawing sits on the surface rather than becoming enmeshed with it, opening up a sense of layered space and perhaps reflecting the artist’s interest in the relationship between form and perception. There's an inherent intimacy in this work, a kind of quiet labor that invites close inspection. By embracing humble materials and direct techniques, Buchheister challenges conventional hierarchies, inviting us to see value in the overlooked.