Blind Time IV (Drawing with Davidson) 1991

This drawing by Robert Morris, part of the Blind Time series, presents a stark black form rendered in charcoal, obscuring any clear subject, pushing at the boundaries of representation. The symbol of darkness has been historically associated with ignorance or the unknown, a motif that traverses cultures from Plato’s cave to the depictions of hell in medieval art. One might recall the recurring theme of blindness in classical mythology, as seen with Oedipus, where physical blindness leads to profound insight. Here, darkness is not merely an absence of light but a force, a visual barrier. Psychologically, this void can be interpreted as a projection of inner turmoil or unexplored aspects of the self. This artistic exploration of blindness and obscurity invites us to confront our own perceptual limitations and engage with the subconscious, a potent reminder of the cyclical and enduring nature of symbolic expression.