Nocturne, Wynyard Square 1932

Dorrit Black made this lino print, Nocturne, Wynyard Square, and right away, what grabs me is the strong contrast of black and white. I imagine her carving away at the linoleum block, making decisive cuts, to create this urban landscape. I feel like she might have been thinking about the dynamism of city life, with its sharp angles and stark shadows. There's a real sense of energy, right? The way the buildings jut out, the bold strokes that suggest light and shadow, it's all so vivid. It reminds me a little of the German Expressionists, with their interest in capturing the intensity of modern experience. But Black brings her own unique sensibility to it, a kind of quirky, almost playful vision. It’s like she's saying, "Yeah, the city can be overwhelming, but it's also kind of beautiful, in its own weird way." And that makes me want to pick up a tool myself and start carving!