Plate 1967

This screenprint of an open mouth by Tom Wesselmann really pops, doesn't it? It's like he's captured a moment of pure expression, a burst of sound or maybe just a silent, knowing smirk. I can imagine Wesselmann, back in the day, carefully layering that pink ink to get that almost tactile feel. It’s not just a flat image, is it? There’s a depth there, a certain juiciness. It makes me think about the pop art scene he was part of, taking everyday images and turning them into something kind of iconic. That particular shade of pink, it’s so loaded! It’s both playful and a little bit naughty, right? And the way he simplifies the form, just the essential shapes, it’s like he’s daring us to see the world in a new, bolder way. What I admire about his work is how he manages to be both cool and intimate at the same time. You can almost hear the echoes of other artists, like Warhol, but Wesselmann has his own distinct voice, a bit louder, a bit more brash, and completely unforgettable.