Plate 11 1940 - 1943

Louie H. Ewing made this print, Plate 11, sometime in the twentieth century. The image has a beautiful flat application of colour; you can really see the process. The patterns give the sense that it could be a quilt design or a blueprint for a rug. I am drawn to the diamond shapes that zip-zag across the salmon coloured background. The dark blue and white add drama and depth, but what really grabs my attention are the plus signs, floating in the middle of the diamonds. They're not quite symmetrical, giving the piece an imperfect, handmade quality that I find very appealing. Ewing has a similar approach to Josef Albers, who also worked with flat blocks of colour and geometric shapes. Both artists share an interest in how simple forms and colours can create dynamic visual experiences. Ultimately this piece, with its nods to textiles and geometric abstraction, is a reminder that art is always in conversation with itself, borrowing, riffing, and remixing ideas across time.