The First Seven Days 1955

Fritz Eichenberg made "The First Seven Days" as a wood engraving, and you can really see that he was enjoying the process. Look at how he contrasts the textures. See the way he renders the cosmos at the top, with the stars and the moon? Then notice the hard lines that frame the beams of light shining down onto the earth. There's a real range between soft and hard marks. My eye keeps getting drawn back to the way Eichenberg depicts the animals at the bottom. Look at the way he captures the texture of the reptile skin in the foreground. It seems like he has relished the opportunity to really spend time with his materials and tools. I am reminded of the work of Max Ernst. Both artists seem interested in artmaking as a form which embraces ambiguity, leaving space for multiple interpretations.