MOCA Jacksonville

Like Warhol, Dorothea Rockburne (b. 1932) is typically known for her energetic colors; however her 1972 aquatint series Locus is notably restrained, highlighting process over palette. To create these monochromatic abstractions, Rockburne ran folded sheets of paper through a printing press, resulting in embossed surfaces. Using aquatint, an etching technique that produces a watercolor-like effect, the artist applied subtle tonal variations, contributing further to the prints’ sculpted quality. By removing color entirely from the Locus series, Rockburne gives primacy to the inherent material properties of paper and her innovative approach to printmaking.

Photo: Dorothea Rockburne, "Locus #4," edition 28/42, 1972