Pool Room c. 1935 - 1943

Beatrice Mandelman made this evocative ‘Pool Room’ print, using, it seems, lithography or a similar printmaking technique. There’s a real sense of place here, and of process. Look how she layers the colors; the ochre underpainting peeks through the browns and reds, giving the scene a kind of seedy warmth. The textures vary so much; from the grainy walls to the smooth green felt of the pool table. The whole thing feels both precise and a little wonky, like an etching that's been reworked and redrawn. That lone figure leaning over the pool table, he could be anyone, anywhere, concentrating on his shot. The colors aren’t quite ‘real’ but communicate a mood. It reminds me of Edward Hopper in its depiction of everyday scenes, and how both artists find beauty in the mundane. It also makes me think of Milton Avery, in the way it simplifies form to make a statement about color and emotion.