Saar’s “mystique city” of 1965 is populated by animals and mysterious figures peeking through windows, its skyline a mixed row of found shapes and curious details. An arc of suns, moons, and stars rises above it, inspired by a graphic the artist saw above a newspaper’s astrology column. These forms, in various arrangements and sizes, are a regular motif in the artist’s prints from 1965 on, made from copper shapes that Saar purchased in bulk at a jewelry store.
Gallery label from Betye Saar: The Legends of Black Girl’s Window, October 21, 2019–January 4, 2020
