Ratio XX

The twentieth work in the Ratio series marks a milestone in Nakazawa's extended proportional inquiry. At this remove from the series' origin, the initial formal premise — whatever specific ratio governs the composition — has been tested against enough variations to reveal its limits and generative possibilities simultaneously. The etching may show greater economy than earlier works in the series, the calligraphic and abstract elements distilled to their most essential configuration within the proportional scheme. Metal leaf, a constant material across most works in this series, here participates in the proportional structure rather than merely decorating it: its placement, dimensions, and relationship to the intaglio ground all reflect the arithmetic logic that gives the series its title. The Roman numeral signals Nakazawa's systematic approach to serial development.