Chief American Horse 1973

Leonard Baskin made this print of Chief American Horse, but the date is unknown, so it’s hard to say exactly what was on his mind at the time. But looking at the image, it feels like Baskin was working things out. The colors are muted, almost apologetic, yet there’s a rawness in the lines, especially around the face. Notice the contrast where a dark shadow cuts down the right side of his face. It's like he's in two worlds at once, history and the present. The strokes are so immediate, like Baskin is trying to capture a fleeting thought, a memory. It reminds me of a de Kooning drawing, but with more weight, more historical baggage. It’s as if the artist is thinking about identity, about how we see each other, and maybe how we fail to see. Art doesn’t give us answers, but it can make us ask better questions.