Sunflowers 1963

Alberico Morena made this lithograph print, Sunflowers, sometime in the 60’s. It’s all about texture and detail, the kind you get from building up layers of tiny marks. Look closely, and you’ll see how Morena captures the garden scene, using a white picket fence as a screen, or frame. The sunflowers and leaves, which are behind the fence, are built up with fine, dense lines, giving them a real sense of depth and presence. I’m drawn to the contrast between the solid verticals of the fence and the organic shapes of the plants. There's something comforting in the repetitive pattern of the fence posts, almost like musical notation. This print reminds me of other artists who work with nature and pattern, like the textile designs of William Morris. But Morena brings a unique, personal touch to the image, inviting us to pause and appreciate the beauty of a garden, and to consider our own relationship with nature.