The Warbonnett c. 1923

Carl Oscar Borg made "The Warbonnett" using printmaking techniques. I find myself thinking about the process when I look at this work, I’m curious about how the artist started, and what the stages were. The stark black ink, almost velvety in its darkness, contrasts sharply with the warm, tan paper, really giving the image a punch. The textures! It’s amazing how much detail Borg achieves with just lines. Take a look at the feathers in the warbonnet, each one distinct, with delicate lines suggesting the barbs and the way the light catches them. It’s like he’s carving light itself. The way he uses line reminds me a little of woodcuts by German Expressionists like Kirchner, but there's also a delicacy here that's all Borg's own. Art, like conversations, builds upon what’s come before. It’s nice to see the artist's mark.