White Ground Letter 2010

Brice Marden’s 'White Ground Letter' presents us with an intricate dance of lines against a pale background. The dark, calligraphic strokes evoke ancient alphabets, perhaps runes or ideograms, hinting at hidden meanings and ancestral knowledge. These lines remind us of the serpent, a primal symbol present across cultures, from the caduceus of Hermes, symbolizing medicine and healing, to the ouroboros, a snake eating its own tail, representing the eternal cycle of life and death. The serpent's form, like the twisting lines here, embodies transformation and the subconscious. Consider how these meandering forms might tap into our collective unconscious, stirring deep-seated emotions and primal fears. It is as if Marden has unearthed something ancient, presenting it in a modern guise. These forms are ever-changing, resonating with different cultures and eras.