Runic Traces 1948

Editor: Worden Day's 1948 print, "Runic Traces", rendered as a linocut or woodblock print, intrigues me with its somewhat obscured images. The arrangement of abstracted objects layered on top of each other conjures thoughts of the artist searching for a way to document their world, not necessarily replicate what it looked like. What is your take? Curator: It feels like archaeology, doesn't it? Layers upon layers hinting at half-forgotten forms and the stories they might tell. Look closely at the forms she repeats. What could these "runes" be evoking, do you think? Is she simply constructing an image, or could there be some hidden symbolism? Editor: I see a lot of shapes and patterns, especially angular and straight lines. I do think the name "Runic Traces" nudges me to interpret these marks as meaningful writing even though I don't understand it. Do you think it could be that abstraction serves as a new kind of symbolic writing in the modern era? Curator: Perhaps. Or maybe it’s an attempt to access a more primitive form of communication, something older and more universal than written language. What is your feeling on the color choices, or lack thereof? Editor: That's interesting! It seems more accessible since the lack of many colors allows you to not be overwhelmed. The earth-toned color palette gives it that sense of unearthed discovery as if its fadedness is evidence of its antiquity. The more I consider your points, the more "Runic Traces" appears to show us what humans have left behind rather than what they will achieve. Curator: Exactly! Through symbolic echoes, Worden Day transports us across millennia to ponder the persistence and the mystery of our shared visual language. Editor: What an incredible consideration! I’ve gained a greater understanding of how our historical memory influences abstract modern artwork, encouraging each of us to translate and build narratives that fit our perspective.