Gift of Carol Quillen, 18th President of Davidson College, and George McLendon

Using the aquatint process, José Clemente Orozco creates a dark and unsettling work. With areas of strong contrast between light and dark,Demon II depicts a figure with a disfigured head; only an arm is clearly rendered, with one finger outstretched upwards. Perhaps most intriguing is the human leg coming out from the bottom of the image, suggesting possession and death.

Executed in 1944 and printed in 1951, this aquatint on handmade 1947 wove paper is numbered fifteen from an edition of seventy-five. The artist’s eldest son has written an inscription of authentication in pencil, verso. With full margins and deckled sheet edges, the plate measures 10 ¾ x 8 ¾ inches. In overall good condition with no evidence of tears or repairs.