Plastnitt I

Olav Herman-Hansen

Olav Herman-Hansen studied with Stanley William Hayter at Atelier 17 in Paris in 1963, and it fundamentally changed the creative path for the painter and printmaker. Having been trained in representational works by primarily Modernist and post-Impressionist professors, the non-objective, experimental nature of Atelier 17, and the entire theory of Abstract Expressionism, spoke to the young artist.

Of particular interest to Herman-Hansen was the idea of combining mediums to achieve an effect on the sheet. Here, we see combinations of soft, hard, irregular and regular textures, suggesting that in addition to the Lucite matrix that he favored, he likely used a woodblock as well, and combined intaglio and relief methods. “Plasnitt” (Plastic cut) is a joyful melange of motion and delicately arranged colors, giving the effect of a tropical underwater seascape or an interpretation of orchestral music. This composition is a fine example of the process, explored at Atelier 17.