Untitled (War) c. 1938

This image called "Untitled (War)," made by Julio De Diego with what looks like a woodcutting technique, plunges us into a stark world of contrasts. It's all black and white, no frills. I can imagine De Diego thinking about Käthe Kollwitz, maybe, as he carved into the wood, channeling the German Expressionists' intense emotions. See how the mother figure looms, her face a mask of fear and protection, as she shields her children? The planes in the sky, rendered as menacing shapes, contrast with the mother’s gesture of concealment, highlighting the sense of immediate danger. The bold lines aren't just marks; they're like cries, carving out a narrative of survival. You know, it reminds me of how we, as artists, keep echoing each other, grappling with the human condition. We are never alone in art making.