Untitled 1984

Jake Berthot, an artist whose life spanned from 1939 to 2014, created this untitled work using black and white printing. Berthot's artistic journey was shaped by a search for meaning in a rapidly changing world. In his works, you can see the influence of abstract expressionism with the search for personal expression. The tension between abstraction and figuration is very present. It invites you to bring your own experiences and emotions to what you are seeing. The interplay of dark and light areas creates a sense of depth and mystery. The white space can almost feel like a breath that gives balance to the heavy black that surrounds it. Berthot once said, "I want my paintings to be a place where people can feel." And here, we feel the weight of the world, a search for solace, and perhaps, a glimmer of hope in the quiet, untouched spaces.