Background:
Layered fields of magenta, violet, and red are animated by floating geometric and biomorphic forms in vivid blue, green, orange, and pink. The work bridges Natkin’s “Bern Series” and “Hitchcock Series”, retaining the layered textures, crosshatching, and embedded forms of the Paul Klee-influenced Bern works while leaning more strongly toward the Hitchcock series through its bold, superimposed shapes and heightened contrasts. Natkin conceived the “Hitchcock Series” as a visual homage to filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock, whose films fascinated him for their combination of beauty and entertainment with mystery, tension, and darker undertones. Rather than depicting a conventional narrative, Natkin created a similar sense of drama and ambiguity through shifts in floating color and value, allowing forms to emerge boldly across the surface.