Grant's Tomb 1916

Rachael Robinson Elmer made this small image of Grant's Tomb as a woodcut, we think in the early 20th century. I can imagine her inking up the block, carefully pressing the paper onto its surface. Elmer’s image is built from simple shapes in a muted palette of greens, blues, and ochres. It’s such a lovely, stylized take on the monument. There’s a soft, hazy atmosphere about it, a quiet stillness that makes me want to linger and contemplate the view. You see how the branches of the trees frame the tomb, contrasting with the activities of people in the park? Elmer’s work often focused on capturing the everyday beauty of nature. What I find so interesting here is how she creates a sense of depth and perspective, pulling me into the scene. She probably learned this from Japanese prints. I think that her printmaking is part of a larger conversation about how we perceive and represent the world around us, each artist building on the ideas and innovations of those who came before.