Triangular Fugue VI 1965

John Dowell created "Triangular Fugue VI" using serigraphy, also known as silkscreen printing. This process begins with a tightly stretched fabric screen. Areas are blocked off, and ink is forced through the open mesh onto the paper beneath. The layered effect suggests a careful, yet spontaneous orchestration. The inks create a tactile presence, each color possessing its own distinct character. The crispness of the lines and shapes, combined with the density of the inks, speaks to the precision and control required by the process. Silkscreen printing has been a favorite medium for artists since the 1960s, offering a way to make multiples, and to address themes of mass production and distribution. Yet, the hand-operated nature of serigraphy means that each print possesses unique variations, revealing the artist’s touch. Dowell coaxes the medium into the realm of fine art, blurring the lines between reproduction and originality, and prompting us to rethink traditional hierarchies of art and craft.