Jetsam

In this vivid screenprint from 1967, Adolph Gottlieb presents a striking composition of bold forms and vibrant colors. A fiery orange-red orb dominates the upper portion, appearing to float above a turbulent, dark mass below. The upper sphere, with its intense hue, seems to radiate energy, a sun-like presence in an ambiguous sky. Below, the dark, almost black, shapes churn and undulate, suggesting a chaotic sea or perhaps a primal landscape. The contrast between these two distinct zones, one luminous and contained, the other dense and expansive, creates a dynamic tension across the cream-colored paper. This work belongs to a series Gottlieb explored for many years, simplifying forms to evoke universal emotions and elemental forces rather than specific narratives.