The dream 1955

Ossip Zadkine created this print, entitled "The Dream", using bold colours and fragmented forms to evoke a sense of surreal reverie. Note the geometric blocks of colour – browns, blacks and ochre – that create a layered, almost architectural space within the composition. Zadkine employs a cubist-inspired approach, breaking down the human figure into simplified shapes and lines. The figures seem to float within the abstract space. This dissection of form can be understood through the lens of structuralism, where the artwork creates meaning through its internal system of signs and relationships. The fracturing of the body challenges traditional notions of representation, mirroring broader intellectual shifts in understanding identity and perception. Consider how this breakdown invites us to question fixed meanings, suggesting that reality itself is fragmented. Ultimately, Zadkine's manipulation of form and space invites us to reflect on the shifting nature of perception and representation in the modern world.