Untitled (La Beaute) 1944

This lithograph, titled "La Beaute," by Robert Laurent, presents a study in simple lines. The printmaking process, lithography, allows for a direct translation of the artist's hand to paper, similar to drawing. In lithography, the image is drawn on a stone or metal plate with a greasy substance, then treated with chemicals so that ink adheres only to the drawn areas. The material quality of this print lies in its stark contrast. The black lines, confident and unbroken, define the contours of the face and upper torso, against the smooth, unblemished surface of the paper. The choice of lithography emphasizes the immediacy and the graphic nature of the artwork. Laurent's work engages with traditions of both fine art and commercial illustration. The clean lines and simplified forms could be mass-produced, yet they also reflect an engagement with modernist aesthetics. By appreciating the choices made in its production, we can see how "La Beaute" blurs these boundaries, inviting us to reconsider what we value in art.