Victors-Some c. 1940 - 1945

Robert A. Brown made this print, called Victors-Some, at some point in his lifetime, using ink on paper. The dense hatching and cross-hatching, it’s like a swarm of tiny lines, all working together to build up tone and suggest form. Look at the figure draped over that dark mass in the center. The artist uses these marks to give a sense of the weight and texture of the body, but it is also an interesting approach to making art – a slow, meticulous, meditative process. The monochromatic palette gives everything a somber feel, and I can't help thinking about Goya’s Disasters of War. The rough texture of the paper adds to the overall feeling of rawness and immediacy. The artist leaves some areas untouched, allowing the paper to breathe, which only accentuates the areas of intense activity. I’m interested in how both artists offer not a fixed narrative, but an ongoing conversation, embracing ambiguity and inviting multiple interpretations.