Colophon for "Triangular Fugue" 1965

This print was made by John Dowell at the University of Washington in 1965. The sparse application of pale yellow ink across the paper creates a subtle base for the gestural marks in red and blue. It’s light, airy. I can almost see Dowell at work in his studio, maybe listening to some jazz, spontaneously responding to the materials at hand, embracing chance and improvisation, and engaging in a dialogue between control and freedom. He’s juggling with shapes, words, and colors. Look at the red markings scattered across the page. They vary from dense concentrations of ink to fine, delicate sprays, creating a dynamic rhythm and movement. It’s a bit like Cy Twombly, but with a Pop Art sensibility. Painting is a conversation, and artists are constantly borrowing, stealing, and transforming ideas from one another. Dowell has created a beautiful visual poem!