Indian Drummer c. 1925 - 1935

Herman Ilfeld Bacharach made "Indian Drummer" as a print, so it's not exactly painting, but I'm still getting a clear sense of how it came into being. This piece feels like a quiet observation, built up layer by layer with such a strong color palette! I'm thinking about the artist and the decisions made as he was creating it. It has a sense of deliberation. The green really vibrates against the browns, creating a harmony. Even the patterned wall in the background gives off an energetic hum. The person looks down, thoughtful, preparing to play. Bacharach's simplification of forms reminds me of the approach of the Bold block print artists, but it’s not a mimicry. It’s a jumping off point. It's so cool how artists are always in this ongoing conversation, inspiring each other across time, you know? He found his own voice within that, embracing the ambiguity and uncertainty, and inviting us to see and feel along with him.