Nest 1985

Audrey Niffenegger made this, probably in her studio, the nest rendered in shades of dark grey against a pale background. I find myself wondering about the printmaking process. You know, the way the artist coaxes an image out of a plate, wiping away ink, revealing forms that hover between reality and dream. The gaze is intense and the nest-hat, perched precariously, makes me think about the creative process itself. I can imagine Niffenegger, sleeves rolled up, face lit by the glow of a lamp, carefully layering the tones. It's almost confrontational; the figure seems to challenge us, asking what we see, what we feel when confronted with this strange, symbolic image. The egg in the nest, sitting on her head, seems to be asking, What is about to hatch? And the way the hands clutch the hat, is there an idea she is trying to hold on to? It reminds me of other figurative painters like Paula Rego who use symbolism and emotional depth. In the studio, artists everywhere are always working with the stuff of life.