Sketch for a Get Well Card 1973

Curator: This 1973 pen and ink drawing by Jerome Kaplan is entitled, “Sketch for a Get Well Card.” The work depicts an armored figure on an animal that is an amalgam of different species; an odd combination of knightly iconography, vulnerable exposure, and an ironic twist with the ‘Get Well’ implication. Editor: Immediately, what strikes me is the intricate yet unsettling application of line and the monochrome tonality; the textures feel restless and even a bit menacing despite what should be a supportive subject. Curator: Right. Beyond the technical skill is this fascinating push-pull in the social commentary and historical art references; on one level, this could be an indictment of militarism, yet there’s something fragile conveyed in that odd fusion of medieval power structure and domesticated animal, and that may say more about vulnerability, than, say, aggression. Editor: Exactly. Note also how Kaplan juxtaposes these forms using hatching, creating spatial ambiguity and flattening perspective; it lends a surreal and slightly grotesque feel which contradicts the sentiment behind a 'get well' wish. The lines create movement and visual noise, preventing the viewer from resting on a single focal point. Curator: I read some biographical notes, and it would seem that during this period in Kaplan's career he had shifted away from total abstraction toward representational subjects, often loaded with symbolism about war and healing from it – something many artists explored in response to political conflicts happening during that era. Editor: Agreed; however, formal analysis suggests the lack of a defined narrative underscores ambiguity which allows multiple readings based on its own graphic merit despite knowing its context or Kaplan’s biography, the careful hatching, layering and use of line and form evoke both depth and uncertainty. Curator: Still, understanding this work as more than line or composition, given the socio-political milieu during which Kaplan created this, and its intended use… Well, maybe he wanted to give a very clear statement that wellness isn’t easily obtained or delivered. Editor: Or simply a reminder that illness and healing are multi-faceted journeys of deconstruction, reassembly, acceptance, or transcendence expressed through artistic skill—in essence, pure visual information structured thoughtfully. Regardless, there's remarkable expression within this ink on paper which deserves deeper consideration, indeed.