Soup and Fish (Portrait of Angus Whyte)

2009
Woodblock print
Edition size: 10, 3 keyline, 2 AP
Image: 8″ x 11 3/4″
Frame: 14″ x “17 3/4″ x 1 1/4”

After studying relief printmaking with Juan Fuentes, I created this woodblock portrait of Angus Whyte based on a vision that he once shared with me for a restaurant concept.

He wanted the restaurant to be a fine dining experience that only served food on the grayscale. He believed so much that he would one day make this vision a reality that he had the painting (depicted here behind him) commissioned as the centerpiece for his dream restaurant. The painting (called “On Edge”) was derived from a famous Pop Art painting.

“Soup and fish” was a common phrase for a formal dinner in 19th century America. The name of the food served was short-hand for a high level of formality and signaled what you’d wear to the event. The combined sophistication/blandness of the term reminded me of Angus’s grayscale restaurant concept, which seemed so unappealing to me.

Angus also had matching placemats with silverware printed on them to match the painting. In this piece, I made the silverware cover the entire table so that the subject is surrounded by sharp, pristine edges to convey a desire to possess shiny things, which could never be satiated.