Regards from Chicago 1952

Joseph Solman made this work, “Regards from Chicago,” using gouache and crayon on paper. These are accessible materials, more associated with the studio than with high-end production. Solman has built this composition through layers of color and the build-up of pigments, creating a textured surface. The gouache gives the painting a matte finish, while the crayon adds a waxiness that catches the light. The visible crayon strokes and the layered application of gouache reveal Solman’s process, inviting us to consider the labor involved in its making. The social context of this work is tied to the artist's personal experiences and the realities of urban life, seemingly at odds with this rather gentle approach to art making. Still, the work resists the smooth surfaces and clean lines often associated with industrial production, and instead celebrates the handmade, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.