Amateurs 1937

Paul Landacre made this wood engraving, called "Amateurs", with stark contrasts of black and white. It's all about the cutting and carving away, isn't it? Look closely, you can see how Landacre lets the wood grain do its thing. The lines aren't just lines; they're textures, moods, like stormy weather rolling in. The contrast creates a kind of raw energy. There’s the guy with the hammer and the figure standing in the background, seemingly at odds with each other. Are they building something, or tearing it down? Now, check out the way the light falls on the figure with the hammer. See how the strokes of the chisel make him look like he's caught in a moment of intense focus? It's like Landacre is saying something about the struggle and the messiness of getting your hands dirty. It reminds me of some of the prints of the German Expressionist Kathe Kollwitz. Both artists capture the everyday struggles of ordinary people, but Landacre’s image is more dreamlike, with an off-kilter perspective. Art isn't about answers. It's about stirring things up.