Adored by collectors and art lovers around the globe, Alex Katz is renowned for his elegant and distinctive version of figuration, with printmaking serving as an essential part of his process.

Born in 1927, Katz has been dedicated to art-making since the 1950's - however it wasn't until the 60's when he established his signature 'flat' aesthetic. Over the succeeding decades, Katz kept the then out of favour tradition of figurative painting alive. 

With a deep interest in poetry and a direct connection to the poets of the New York School, Katz has collaboratively engaged with poets throughout his career. This work is from the Gloria portfolio, which is comprised of 25 etchings and a book with the etchings alongside 28 poems by Bill Berkson.

Katz and Berkson had known one another since the 1960s. For the Gloria project, Katz responded to a selection of recent poems by Berkson. The plates are printed as small squares on much larger sheets, evoking a voyeuristic gaze, looking through a window into a singular moment. Each of Katz's images was picked from a pre-existing painting, stripped of colour and downsized, depicted with thick outlines. The blunt, almost crude style of Katz's imagery pairs well with Berkson's inclination to move freely between prose and poetry.

This particular sheet (#2) features a woman staring directly at us, with loose hair and an extravagant coat. She exists only in outlines--her presence quietly palpable--in Katz's signature minimalistic style.

Questions about this piece? Contact us, call +1.416.704.1720, or visit our Toronto gallery.

"Gloria" portfolio, sheet 2

Gloria is portfolio of 25 etchings by Alex Katz, including a book with 28 poems by Bill Berkson and 25 etchings by Alex Katz

USA, 2005

Etching on Zerkall Ingres paper

Signed and numbered in pencil, lower left corner

Edition: 100, 26 lettered copies (A-Z), AP

This print is edition "94/100"

4"H 4"W (plate)

12”H 9”W (sheet)

17"H 17"W (framed)

Plates prepared and proofed by Simmelink/Sukimoto Editions

Printed by R. E. Townsend, Inc., Georgetown, Mass.

Published by the Arion Press, San Francisco

Literature: Alex Katz: Catalogue Raisonné, prints: 1947-2023, listed as cat. no. 396 alongside the entire Gloria portfolio (cat. nos. 395-419) on pages 260-263.