The Joyful II 1971

Dzevad Hozo made this print, The Joyful II, and it’s like a big, graphic hug in red and brown. I can imagine him, in the studio, layering color and form, figuring out how to make something so simple feel so full. The red is bold, but it's got this soft, rounded shape that feels like it wants to embrace you. It's like he’s saying, "Hey, let's find some joy in these basic forms." The brown bits act like a grounding force, keeping the red from floating away. It reminds me a bit of Philip Guston's later work, that same kind of playful simplicity that can hold so much emotion. What I like about this is the sense of balance. The composition is harmonious, and the textures give depth to the image. Ultimately, making art is a way for artists to talk to each other across time, and for us to connect to them, and to ourselves.