Sweet Trumpet c. 1969

Andrene Kauffman made this print, Sweet Trumpet, using a block to make multiple impressions in black and white. It's a process of revelation, cutting away to find the image. I love the bold, graphic quality, the way the faces emerge from the dense black background. The white shapes aren't just empty spaces; they're the result of deliberate choices, each cut a decision. Look at how she renders the hair – those quick, rhythmic lines that suggest movement and texture. The faces, so similar, yet each with its own subtle variations, maybe it's about music? Or maybe it's more about rhythm. You can almost feel the artist's hand at work, the pressure of the tool, the resistance of the material. The contrast is stark, uncompromising, but within that, there's a surprising amount of detail and nuance, a real visual and conceptual punch, like the work of someone like Kara Walker. This piece captures a moment, a feeling, an idea, and invites us to contemplate its many possible meanings.