The natural landscape was a common subject of Saar’s early prints. Here, emotion pervades the scene, with soft bands of color filtering through the dense vegetation. The imagery was likely inspired by the artist’s visits to the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve outside Los Angeles. At the time, Saar lived in nearby Redondo Beach and took printmaking classes at California State University, Long Beach. This work was the first Saar formally exhibited, including it in her first group show, at the Palos Verdes Library Gallery in 1961.
Gallery label from Betye Saar: The Legends of Black Girl’s Window, October 21, 2019–January 4, 2020