Amphitrite 1930

Raoul Dufy made this print, Amphitrite, with some kind of etching or engraving process, focusing on line as the primary vehicle. It’s so minimal, just a few lines describing a figure, shells and clouds, like a shorthand. For me, artmaking is about this kind of distillation, getting to the core of a thing with the fewest possible moves. The overall feeling is light, airy, maybe even a little humorous. Look at the way the lines wobble and vary in thickness, creating a sense of movement. It’s like he’s not trying to be perfect, just capturing the essence of the scene. Dufy’s use of the simple curving line is really effective. He manages to convey the volume and weight of the figure while keeping everything light and open. There’s a playful contrast between the detailed rendering of the figure and the simplicity of the clouds. Dufy often used similar loose, flowing lines in his paintings, but here, stripped down to the bare minimum, the quality of the line itself becomes the main event. I am reminded of Matisse’s line drawings which have a similar sense of joy and simplicity. Art is like a conversation, and Dufy and Matisse are definitely chatting here.