The Magic Garden 1953 - 1955

Louise Nevelson made this print, The Magic Garden, using etching to create a rich landscape of textures and tones. It's all about how she's built up the image, scratching and biting into the metal to conjure this otherworldly scene. Look at how she's layered the marks, creating forms that feel both familiar and strange. The dark areas contrast with the lighter ones, giving it a real sense of depth. See the face-like shapes? They're like little spirits or deities guarding the garden, adding to the mystical vibe. There's something so raw and immediate about the way Nevelson works. Nevelson always had her own way of doing things. You can see it in her later sculptural work too. Someone like Kurt Schwitters comes to mind, also cobbling together found materials, making something new out of the old. Ultimately, "The Magic Garden" isn’t just about what it depicts, but about how it invites us to see the world through Nevelson’s eyes.