Untitled (Ring-Around-A-Rosy) 1949

Robert Gwathmey made this print, Untitled (Ring-Around-A-Rosy), using bold, flat colours and simplified shapes to capture a moment of communal joy. Look at the way he uses colour to define the forms, creating a sense of depth and movement with a limited palette. It's all about paring down to the essentials, leaving room for the viewer to fill in the gaps. Gwathmey's process feels both deliberate and intuitive. The shapes are carefully placed, but there's also a sense of spontaneity in the way the figures are rendered. Notice how he uses small colour details to make specific parts of the body read, like the children's toes and hands. Each colour block is like a puzzle piece, and that placement is very intentional and adds to the work's dynamism. This print reminds me of the work of Jacob Lawrence, another artist who used flat, simplified forms to tell stories about the African American experience. Both artists were interested in capturing the everyday lives of their subjects with dignity and respect, and in elevating the seemingly ordinary to the level of art. It’s like they’re saying, "Here, look at this. This is important."