Dawn Confab c. 1940s

"Dawn Confab" is a color woodcut print by American artist Bernard Joseph Steffen, created in the 1940s. The print depicts a fence line with numerous birds perched on a wire, against a backdrop of an expressive, multi-colored sky at sunrise. The work’s title and depiction evoke a sense of quiet contemplation and a moment of communal gathering at dawn. Steffen's use of bold color and simplified forms create a striking and visually captivating composition. The artist's keen eye for detail and expressive use of color, which imbue the work with a sense of tranquility and natural beauty, is evident in the detailed depiction of the birds and the intricate patterns of the clouds.