Lithograph 1968 

Curator: What strikes you first about this lithograph by Jean-Paul Riopelle? It’s simply titled "Lithograph 1968." Editor: Well, besides its delightful boldness, I'm seeing almost heraldic shapes fighting for attention. Angular swatches and aggressive hatchings dominate the visual space, full of primal energy, and tension. What about you? Curator: I completely agree. The composition is a whirlwind, isn't it? You know Riopelle was a key figure in the Montreal Automatiste movement, which heavily embraced automatism—allowing the subconscious to guide the artwork without conscious control. I find this a fascinating example. Editor: Absolutely. I detect symbols relating to nature: foliage, roots, or maybe landscapes viewed from above. I also wonder what significance those rough squares carry – are they alluding to a structured society contrasted by an uncontrolled wild nature? Or, could those blocky geometric forms simply be Riopelle thumbing his nose at artistic conventions? Curator: The mystery is the magic. It feels like we’re catching glimpses of something half-remembered, a visual echo. Consider this: as a print, this would have been created with very physical marks - the pressure, the carving or etching of a stone... a kind of primal mark making. I almost hear the tools as much as I see the colors. Editor: That’s an intriguing connection! The more I look at it, the more that central dark cluster pulls me in - it has almost an insectoid quality. It definitely disrupts any passive viewing experience, triggering memories, however vague or abstract. Curator: Memories layered onto the present moment of viewing the image. Editor: Yes, absolutely! It prompts speculation—what hidden images might be embedded in the subconscious patterns – like visual archaeology in this multi-layered piece? It has such intensity! It almost gives the sense of glimpsing something forbidden. Curator: I agree completely; "Forbidden" is perfect for describing that kind of edge of the known…It will stick with me! Editor: And I am equally enchanted! Let’s explore this mystery further!