Dream Girl

Emma Amos|Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop|Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop|Anthony Kirk

1975 · Etching, aquatint, and relief · Drawings and Prints

Layered textures, tones, patterns, and the incorporation of a variety of techniques testify to Amos’s innovative approach to artmaking. In both prints and paintings, Amos used technical as well as compositional means to, in her words, "provoke more thoughtful ways of thinking and seeing." Often using herself as a model, she regularly depicted Black women as confident and powerful, even while navigating treacherous conditions that resulted from societal prejudice. Here, a self-possessed and contemplative woman is shown with her body positioned toward the viewer. Amos repeats shapes, such as the curving forms, to link various sections across the composition. Decorative patterns contrast with areas of solid color, a reference to the artist’s weaving and fabric design skills.

Artist

Emma Amos|Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop|Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop|Anthony Kirk

Date

1975

Medium

Etching, aquatint, and relief

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

John B. Turner Fund, 2018