Sunlit Dunes 1951

Stow Wengenroth’s "Sunlit Dunes" is a lithograph: a print made from a flat stone using greasy crayon and acid. The velvety blacks and subtle gradations of tone we see here were achieved by Wengenroth's masterful manipulation of these materials. Lithography isn't about brute force; it demands sensitivity and control. The artist coaxes the image from the stone, building up layers of tone to evoke the play of light on the rippling surface of the sand, and the coarse texture of the dune grass. Wengenroth was deeply engaged with the history of printmaking. In a sense, he took on the role of both artist and skilled artisan, continuing a tradition that predates the advent of photography, yet speaks to a modern sensibility. While we often associate printmaking with mass production, here it is a tool for capturing the quiet beauty of a unique scene. It reminds us that even within industrial processes, there's space for individual expression and craft.