Lynching c. 1935 - 1940

Inez Keister’s print, titled “Lynching,” uses hatching and cross-hatching to build up tone and texture. The nervous energy of the lines creates a sense of unease. You can see how Keister approached the work, thinking about the emotional impact of the subject as much as the image itself. The texture of the print— the sharp, jabbing lines of the faces in the crowd— create a kind of visceral reaction. The whole scene is built from these marks, making the image very immediate. It’s not about smooth surfaces, but about the grit and horror of the event. Look closely at the letters 'KKK' scrawled above the hooded figures. The mark-making is crude, childish almost, which adds to the disturbing atmosphere of ignorance and hate. This directness reminds me of the work of someone like Otto Dix, where the intensity of feeling is etched into the very surface of the work. “Lynching” is a reminder that art doesn't always have to be pretty; sometimes, it needs to be raw and confrontational.