Between the lines of the Body

The 20th century was marked by rapid modernization and profound feelings of alienation brought on by war and displacement. In this context, the study of intimacy and emotional identity became crucial to navigating the fragmented world of the 1900s. Art emerged as a vital medium for self-expression, self-discovery, and the search for meaning. By pairing Stanley William Hayter’s Unstable Woman and Hans Erni’s Le Couple Endormi, I aim to explore how artists depict human bodies as ever-changing and fluid. Both works examine intimacy and the fractured modern subject through the use of distorted and layered figuration. Psychological fragmentation is expressed through geometric lines and overlapping forms, creating tension while unraveling the complexity of human emotion, sexuality, and intimacy. The juxtaposition between these works emphasizes how two 20th-century artists used abstraction to represent the inner psyche while working in a post-war environment characterized by upheaval. Hayter's Unstable Woman provokes instability and explosivity through its bright colors, creating contrast, motion, and flowing lines. Meanwhile, Erni’s couple seems to be a more inward reflection of psychological implications on the physical body. Hayter created a range of bold and delicate lines and developed a complex and multilayered composition, emphasizing the volatility and dynamism of the human body. Enri, working with the lithographic technique in his print, achieves extremely precise and delicate lines, reflecting a meticulous attention to form. In both Unstable Woman and Le Couple Endormi, the lines delineate the human figure from the background while imbuing the artworks with emotion and a sense of motion.

Curated by Gianna Palacio-Stiegele (‘27), Art History & Spanish

Hans Enri (1909–2015), a Swiss graphic designer, painter, illustrator, engraver, and sculptor, had a diverse and prolific career. He served as a camouflage painter in the Swiss Army, created murals, and illustrated books, stamps, and medals. Enri began experimenting with abstract art in 1936, four years before he served in the Swiss Army, where his experience with large-scale murals proved invaluable. He competed in the painting competitions of the 1948 Summer Olympics and traveled the world painting and exhibiting his art in Latin America and later in Africa. Enri’s oeuvre primarily explores the human figure, whether engaged in sport, as a broader study of movement, or as a study of line, exemplified in Le Couple Endormi. Enri highlights line, form, and movement through nude human figures in Le Couple Endormi, showcasing his signature style while employing a more subdued color palette compared to his other works. 

Mark H. Reece Collection of Student-Acquired Contemporary Art CU1969.5.1 Mark H. Reece Collection of Student-Acquired Contemporary Art CU1963.13.1