Compostion XVI 1962

This is "Composition XVI" by Matta, made with etching. You can see that Matta wasn't afraid to let the process show; the lines are kind of scratchy and raw, and the shapes feel like they're constantly shifting and reforming, like he’s thinking through the image right there on the plate. There is a real push and pull between the dark and light areas. The white shapes really pop against the shadowy background, making you notice the texture of the paper. Look closely, and you can see how the etched lines create a sense of depth. It’s like peering into another dimension, where everything is a little bit off-kilter and dreamlike. Check out the way the yellow dots seem to float and connect with the jagged chair, like a memory dissolving in space. Matta always blew my mind with his ability to create these abstract landscapes of the mind. It reminds me a bit of Gorky's surrealism. Like them, he seemed to understand that art is about so much more than just representing what we see. It’s about conjuring the unseen, and embracing the unknown.