Boundary, (Box 7)
1990

Despite his consistent use of a restricted color palette, Robert Ryman has employed a broad array of artistic materials and techniques. As a printmaker, he has utilized aquatint plates, lithograph stones, silkscreens, paper, ink, and the variable pressure of the printing press to create subtle and distinctive surfaces. Boundary Box 7 is a testimony to his investigation of the potential of printmaking for nearly a quarter century. The suite comprises forty-two unique works, with four impressions placed in each of ten wood boxes—with inset encaustic panels—that the artist considers integral to the work. The apparent simplicity of these sheets belies the complexity of their execution and the highly conceptual underpinnings of the artist’s work. The “boundaries” within each impression—points of contact between textures, edges, gestures, and surfaces—are achieved in a multitude of ways using paper, printing techniques, and hand additions by the artist.