Sea Forms 1937

John Ferren made this intriguing print, called Sea Forms, using woodcut. In this technique, the artist carves an image into a block of wood. The remaining raised surface is then inked and pressed onto paper. What I find fascinating here is how Ferren pushes this traditional medium towards abstraction. The blocky shapes and layering of colors create a sense of depth and movement, reminiscent of waves or floating objects. You can almost feel the texture of the wood grain beneath the ink, a subtle reminder of the hand-made process. Woodcut has a long history, from early printed books to folk art, but Ferren re-imagines it as a vehicle for modern art. He treats his material with respect, allowing the character of the wood to inform his design, and blurring the lines between printmaking, painting, and sculpture.