Dark Forest 1937

Andre Masson made *Dark Forest* with ink and gouache on cardboard, and the simplicity is striking. The way the ink squiggles across the surface reminds me of automatic drawing, a process of letting the hand move freely without conscious thought. This can be such a great way to get started, a way of embracing the unknown. The thin washes of gouache let the texture of the cardboard peek through, adding a tactile dimension to the piece. Look closely at the main yellow figure. The paint's applied so thinly in places it almost looks like a stain! Then there are the bold, dark black lines which really pop against the paler ground. The yellow figure turns into black at the base, like it’s wilting or burning out, a little melancholic, perhaps. But the other elements are more hopeful - the leaf and flower both suggest growth and renewal. Masson's work here embraces both dark and light, a conversation that continues to resonate with me.