The Three Muscians [sic] 1945

Mary Gehr made this lithograph, 'The Three Musicians,' sometime in the 20th century using black ink on paper. I love the scratchy quality, like the lines are in a hurry, doing their best to capture the fleeting moment. I can imagine Gehr in the print studio, working with a big, flat limestone and greasy crayons. The three figures emerge from the darkness, each holding a musical instrument and ready to play. It’s got a real urban feel to it; I can almost hear them jamming. Look at the way she captures the faces in profile. Simple, elegant, and totally effective. She is looking at Picasso, maybe? The guy in the middle, with the striped shirt, is my favorite. There’s something about the way his shoulders slump that feels so human. Anyway, I just think it’s cool how artists keep talking to each other across time, riffing on similar themes, giving us new ways to see and hear the world.