Saber Dance 1952

Gene Davis made this ink drawing, Saber Dance, and you can see he’s working fast, right? There's a real sense of immediacy. He’s using the brush in different ways - sometimes thin lines, sometimes wider washes, all monochrome. It's like he's thinking through the act of making. I love the way Davis uses black and white to create depth. Look at the upper left corner where the silhouette of the figure creates a feeling of receding space. Then there are these incredible textured areas, almost like fields of tiny, scribbled marks, they are so dense, creating a kind of abstract pattern. These areas contrast with the smooth, fluid lines elsewhere, building a really exciting visual rhythm. Davis is often linked with the Washington Color School, and although the palette is limited, you can see how he’s investigating abstract form with the same energy. His work reminds me a little bit of Franz Kline - but with its own distinct voice. Ultimately, Saber Dance is a testament to the power of simplicity and the endless possibilities within abstraction.