Arrangement for Drums 1941

Benton Spruance made this lithograph, Arrangement for Drums, layering and hatching different tones of grey to create an imagined musical landscape. Looking at the piece you can really see artmaking as a process, as the artist grapples with the possibilities of different forms. The textures, so rich and varied, give the print a real sense of depth. Some areas are densely worked, almost velvety, while others are smoother, allowing the paper to breathe. Look at the upper left corner, how the drum is rendered with a series of concentric circles, its surface alive with subtle variations in tone. It's a real feat of printmaking, transforming something mechanical into an organic, almost pulsating form. The Bauhaus artists come to mind, maybe Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, but Spruance brings a uniquely American sensibility to the table. It’s not about perfection, but about embracing the unpredictable nature of the medium.