The Orange Point

Thomas Arthur Robertson

Another impression of "The Orange Point" is illustrated in color and discussed on pages 148 - 149 in A Spectrum of Innovation - Color in American Printmaking 1890-1960.' by David Acton, 1990, Worcester Art Museum.

Acton writes: "The artist employed simple technical means to achieve interesting spatial and coloristic effects in the print, modeling the surface of the yellow field with several colors rather than placing forms before it. The design is primarily linear, however, and the surface contours do not circumscribe forms but instead define ridges, like crests of hills on a topographical chart. The modeling on both sides of these contour lines create spacial ambiguity, the swirling curves reminiscent of markings on a weather map.

Robertson looked to Native American art for decorative motifs that bore no recognizable meaning. He derived the arcs, floating circles, serpentine slashes and meandering lines of his designs of the 1940's from the decoration of pottery made by the ancient Caddoan Indians of southwestern Arkansas."