Plants and Birds

John von Wicht

By the 1950s John von Wicht’s printed work had transformed from angular, geometric, urban abstraction - informed no doubt by his work with stained glass - into a more freeform style, embracing what he had already been practicing in his painting. By now, the German expat based in New York had begun to frequent Spain, enjoying the warmer climate, and, much like his contemporaries, likely found inspiration in the ancient iconography and the flora and fauna found throughout Europe’s temperate regions.

In “Birds and Plants” he has eliminated much of the texture he had applied to his earlier works, as well, focusing the forms that play out on the stone. Appearing to be a nocturnal meeting of plant and animal life, the simplified forms appear to uplift and support one another, showcasing earth’s natural inclination toward balance.