Black and White 1

In the Black and White series, as in several other weavings that also reflect the influence of Bauhaus simplicity, Stein experimented with geometric forms through the play of light and dark (and the infinite gray scale in between), negative and positive, and spatial relationships. A virtually infinite range of compositional and tonal possibilities is offered. She made compositional use of the diagonals that come naturally with the stepped pattern changes possible on a loom. Encouraged by success in drawing graceful curved lines on graph paper, Stein experimented with curved lines, which do not come naturally on the loom, in the third, fourth, and fifth works in the series.