Washington Arch at Winter Twilight 1914

Rachael Robinson Elmer created this image of the Washington Arch at Winter Twilight, using color woodcut. This process involves carving a design into a block of wood, applying ink to the raised surfaces, and then pressing the block onto paper. Unlike painting or drawing, printmaking allows for the creation of multiple identical images through a laborious process. Elmer’s choice of color woodcut, with its distinctive graphic style, emphasizes the materiality of the print, with its visible texture, weight, color, and form. The image is made through skilled labor, and the traditions of craft and fine arts. The work’s engagement with techniques and tools imbues it with social significance. This print, with its depiction of a bustling urban scene, reflects the rise of consumer culture and mass production. The amount of work involved in producing the print invites us to reflect on the social and economic forces shaping the city around the Washington Arch. The materials, making, and context enrich our understanding, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.