Untitled (Nickel Drawing) 1954

Editor: This is Dorothy Dehner's "Untitled (Nickel Drawing)". It looks like it was created using ink and wash. There's a figure, but it’s so abstract. What strikes you most about it? Curator: I see a powerful commentary on the fragmented self. Dehner, often overshadowed by her husband David Smith, creates a visual language of displacement, mirroring the experience of many women artists in the mid-20th century. Is this figure confined or liberated by its abstract form? Editor: I hadn't considered the gendered aspect. The figure does seem trapped, almost dissected. Curator: Exactly. The nickel likely alludes to worth. This work prompts us to question whose stories are valued and how artistic expression can reclaim agency. Dehner challenges the dominant narrative. Editor: That really changes how I see it. Thanks for sharing your perspective! Curator: My pleasure! Art reveals the power of untold stories, inviting us to engage in critical dialogue.