Landowner 1943

This is 'Landowner', a print by Leopoldo Méndez, and it's all about the stark contrast of black and white. It looks like it's been cut with a knife – precise and deliberate, but also raw. There’s a real tension here, a kind of visual argument. Look at the figures – the heaviness of the 'landowner' versus the vulnerability of the family. The way Méndez uses these graphic blacks to describe form, it’s like he's carving out space for the viewer to feel something. It’s not just about seeing; it’s about experiencing the weight of the scene. Notice the shadow over the doorway. It looks like a dark cloud, almost cartoonish, but it really evokes the mood. Méndez reminds me of Käthe Kollwitz in the way he marries formal elements with social commentary, using the print medium to speak truth to power. To me, this piece isn’t just a depiction; it’s a statement.