Untitled (Black and white abstraction) 1949

Leonard Edmondson's black and white abstraction was made in 1949, rendered with a delicate touch through etching on paper. The image presents a fascinating array of geometric forms suggesting organic structures. Notice the spheres, which have been potent symbols throughout history, representing wholeness, the cosmos, or divinity. Edmondson arranges them atop plant-like structures, reminiscent of ancient depictions of the tree of life. Consider its presence in ancient Mesopotamian art and its recurrence in medieval Christian iconography. The way Edmondson presents these forms, stacked and layered, evokes the subconscious accumulation of cultural memories. Observe also the recurring motif of concentric lines and circles, which echoes the ancient symbol of the eye, or the cycle of life, emerging across various cultures. This symbolic language, embedded deep within our collective unconscious, engages the viewer on a profound level. The non-linear, cyclical progression of these symbols resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings in different historical contexts.