JAY BATLLE

In Bloom: Fleur de Sel, Variations in 15 Courses

In this variable edition of 15 monoprints, painter Jay Batlle employs lithography, woodcut, and hand-coloring in a celebration of vibrant florals. The artist uses graphic gestures and vivid colors that take inspiration from 19th century French lithography and painting. Each monoprint takes on its own character while sharing kinship with the larger group. In this series, Batlle is also directly referencing his oil painting “Death of the Valkyrie” which exploits decalcomania, a favorite technique of the Surrealists. The technique involves transferring the fresh brushstrokes from one print onto another print. One can see the effect in “In Bloom: Fleur de Sel #8” where black and white swirls hover over a red field of color. The artist builds up the prints through multiple layers of woodcut and hand-colored passages, each adding nuances of fresh painterly activity. The variety of techniques keeps the viewer involved and evokes the desire to keep looking.

–     Andrew Mockler