Untitled (Abstraction) 1948

This untitled abstraction was created by Frank Lobdell using lithographic crayon on paper. Lobdell was associated with the Bay Area Figurative Movement, but this print pushes away from recognizable forms. The composition is dominated by heavy, dark marks that create a sense of tension and ambiguity. It was made during the Cold War, a time of great anxiety and social change in the United States, and we might wonder if this cultural context influenced the artist in any way. As an art historian, I'm interested in how institutions like the California School of Fine Arts, where Lobdell taught, shaped artistic production. What role did it play in encouraging or discouraging abstraction? To gain a deeper understanding, exploring exhibition records, artists’ statements, and critical reviews from the period could provide some valuable insights. Art always exists within a specific cultural and institutional framework.