Dancing Ass 1940

Bror Utter made this small print, "Dancing Ass," sometime in the 20th century. The cross hatching used to create shading gives the whole scene an almost vibrating quality. Utter’s image feels like a glimpse into some personal, maybe even forbidden, world. I keep coming back to the peculiar boots on the human figure, they look like they are made of skin. They feel so vulnerable, especially in contrast to the patterned trousers and the nearby urn. The texture and the way the light falls almost makes the urn feel as if it's covered in velvet. The human's wide-eyed expression gives the impression of being caught in the act, perhaps as a result of the donkey’s dance moves. Utter reminds me of the paintings of Henri Rousseau, with his own brand of personal symbolism. Both were masters of imbuing their paintings with an aura of childlike wonder. They both point to art's endless capacity for surprising us and challenging our assumptions.