Items Similar to "The Yin + the Yang of it" Original Etching by Ellen Jewett
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 12
"The Yin + the Yang of it" Original Etching by Ellen Jewett
About the Item
Ellen Jewett's print "Yin and Yang in it" plunges into profoundly esoteric and symbolic realms. The vertical composition, divided into two parts, immediately draws attention to a dualistic dialogue. Two contrasting crosses appear - the wider, shorter one in the lower third, suggesting the infra-world, a subterranean world, a cemetery perhaps, and the slender one in the upper part, crossing the two worlds, the two spaces of the etching, and symbolizing spiritual ascent, the whole story of transcendence embodied by the One also known as "the watching spirit". The intersection of the vertical and horizontal axes can represent the symbolic outline of the human experience.
The symbolism of Yin and Yang permeates the work, both in its title and in its construction and content, with the background contrasting with the luminosity of the two main crosses and actors, inquiring the universal principle of duality that echoes the Taoist concept of opposing but complementary forces. The artist's emphasis on the "in it" underlines the omnipresence of this ambivalence inherent in all aspects of existence, be it the infinitely small or the infinitely big, microcosm and macrocosm, the visible and the non-visible, the mortal and the immortal, and so on.
In this space, a floating form, whose movement is reinforced by what might correspond to its hair in the wind. It's not just one figure, but two. By examining the two characters, we envisage the possibility of a postmortem soul transition, suspended between angelic strength (lighter, winged form) and earthly attachments (darker form below the first). This evokes themes of rites of passage from one world to another, the complex dance between feminine and masculine energies, as embodied by yin and yang, Shakti and Shiva, sun and moon, life force and consciousness, life and death... Is it an angel holding a man's body like a bird of prey seizing its victim? Is it a divided soul that has lost its way and is seeking to find itself again? Is it a spiritual being seeking to save the soul of a freshly dead man? Other shapes can be glimpsed on the right, ghostly presences. Like all symbolic works with primitive connotations, it's up to each viewer to find their own resonance and recreate a story from the artwork. The cross, a symbol of union and plenitude, and the two contrasting figures suspended in mid-air, serve as a focal point for questioning attachment to the earthly world of illusions known as Maya. This contemplation extends to the finitude and ephemerality of human existence, activating primal fears inherent in the passage to other worlds.
Ellen’s etching visually explores the ongoing transformation between two distinct realms: the world of the living and that of the dead, as well as the realm of internal struggles, depicting themes of death, liberation and rebirth. The artwork is meticulously presented, framed, signed, and titled by the artist.
- Dimensions:Height: 15 in (38.1 cm)Width: 13.6 in (34.55 cm)Depth: 1.25 in (3.18 cm)
- Style:Post-Modern (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Pasadena, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU825837750762
About the Seller
4.8
Vetted Seller
These experienced sellers undergo a comprehensive evaluation by our team of in-house experts.
Established in 2000
1stDibs seller since 2006
495 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 2 hours
Associations
20th Century Specialists
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Pasadena, CA
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
More From This SellerView All
- "Sand Dunes" Sepia Landscape Etching by Ruth LeafLocated in Pasadena, CARuth Leaf (1923-2015) was an American artist and a Pioneer in the discipline of printmaking, specifically etching. She authored the book, “Etching, Engraving and Other Intaglio Printmaking Techniques” (Watson-Guptil Publications) in 1976 while teaching at her namesake studio in Long Island and it remains the textbook used today in many schools. This etching is signed and numbered 34/60. The etching sits in a beautiful organic carved raw wood...Category
Mid-20th Century American Prints
MaterialsWood, Paper
- "Transformation" Symbolic Colorfoul Artist Proof EtchingLocated in Pasadena, CAAt first glance, this colorful etching reveals a mirrored structure, two figures, and two roosters, almost identical and reflecting each other. And it's in the "almost" that the arti...Category
Late 20th Century Philippine Prints
MaterialsPaper
- The Woman and the Peacock Lithograph by Mr. Blackwell 114/250Located in Pasadena, CAUtilizing the peacock as an emblematic Art Nouveau animal, a favorite of early 20th-century illustrators and designers, Mr. Blackwell, who was born in 1925, delivers a powerfully aesthetic scene between a woman and a peacock in this lithograph, paying homage to both Art Nouveau and Art Deco. He was among others an American fashion critic, television/radio personality, and fashion designer. We can imagine that this drawing was a study for a dress paying homage to the myth and quintessence of the beauty found within peacock feathers. Like any artist, there is a story, structure, composition, and arrangement of the woman and the peacock, creating an iridescent visual of blue, green, and yellow, a dialogue between forms, curves, and lines. It is said that the Eye on the bird’s feathers reminds us that God is always watching. The off-white background is sober, crossed by two simple circular colored shapes, in the lower part. The two subjects initially appear as one entity, but as we move into the scene, we see that the woman is holding the peacock under her arm as one might hold an accessory. Then very quickly, it appears as the main figure, taking over the entire narrative rather than an accessory or a secondary figure. The peacock's regal posture, with its unfurled feathers, contrasts with the woman's near imbalance, almost as if she was fainting. It could also be interpreted as an intimate and seductive dance, where the two subjects come together as one to pay homage to a poetic and metaphorical world where aesthetics, fashion, and onirism converge. Did you know that peacocks use...Category
Mid-20th Century American Art Nouveau Prints
MaterialsPaper
- Late 19th Century "Le Rire" Magazine Original Covers in Gold Frames, Set of 2Located in Pasadena, CAThe two original covers from "Le Rire", a late 19th Century Satirical Magazine, present a trial scene and a park scene. In the trial picture sketched by Willette, an upset judge ...Category
Antique 1890s French Art Nouveau Prints
MaterialsPaper
- Venus in Watts Post-Modern Lithograph Portrait by Marcus ElliotLocated in Pasadena, CAThis lithograph by Marcus Elliott features a post-modern woman portrait, titled "Woman In Watts". The blue and yellow zig zag lines used to depict its Venus operates as a metaphor fo...Category
1990s American Post-Modern Prints
MaterialsPaper
- The Divine Feminine - Black and White LithographLocated in Pasadena, CAIn this lithograph of a nude woman, the essence of feminine mysticism takes center stage. The work is numbered and signed but with a signature that makes it difficult to read the ide...Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Prints
MaterialsPaper
You May Also Like
- Original Antique Print of the city of Yang-Tcheou, ChinaLocated in Langweer, NLAntique print titled 'Faubourg de Yang-fou'. Original old print of the city of Yang-tcheou, in the Province of Che-kian, showing a temple, a monument, a fort, and part of the city wa...Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Prints
MaterialsPaper
- Pair of Original Monotype Etchings of the Duomo, Signed by Artist, 1981Located in View Park, CATwo original monotype etching prints, “Duomo I” and “Duomo II” by artist Lisa Dlouhy, made in Italy 1981. Dlouhy is a Czech-Armenian artist who studied under the close tutelage of renowned Italian artist Manlio Guberti. Guberti was mainly known for his Cezanne-esque landscapes, and Dlouhy’s work echoes these sensibilities, most notably in the cubist compartmentalism of light. Here we see this methodology in her two depictions of the Duomo in Florence, etched from life (Guberti’s primary studio...Category
Late 20th Century Italian Prints
MaterialsGlass, Paper
- “The Great Black Cloud”, Original Etching by Kerr EbyBy Kerr EbyLocated in Bronx, NYThis rare & wonderfully preserved vintage etching by Kerr Eby is a depiction of the World War 1, September 13, 1918 battle of St. Mihiel. The powerful etching...Category
Vintage 1930s Canadian Prints
MaterialsPaper
- "Guardian of the Spire" Etching by John Taylor ArmsLocated in Toledo, OHThis etching by John Taylor Arms is titled "Guardians of the Spire." John Taylor Arms(1887-1953) was a famous printmaker in the early 20th century. This etching features two griffin ...Category
Vintage 1920s Gothic Revival Prints
MaterialsPaper
- Original David Hockney Etching of Celia BirtwellBy David HockneyLocated in Henley-on Thames, OxfordshireOriginal David Hockney etching of Celia Birtwell, iconic British textile designer and fashion designer, signed, numbered 13 of an edition of 75, dated 1...Category
Vintage 1960s English Modern Decorative Art
MaterialsPaper
- Pair of Original Antique French Triumph EtchingsLocated in Chicago, ILOriginal antique French etchings in their original gilt frames that would be awesome used in most any room of the home.Category
Antique 19th Century French Drawings
MaterialsPaper
