Man and Animals c. 1957

Charles Knowles made this print titled 'Man and Animals' using linocut, a relief printing technique where an image is carved into a sheet of linoleum, inked, and then pressed onto paper. Linocut, unlike traditional woodcut, is a modern medium, associated with bold graphics and ease of production. The choice of linocut here speaks volumes. It provided Knowles with a way to produce multiple impressions, making art more accessible, and less precious. The flat planes of color and simplified forms are characteristic of the medium, lending the composition a somewhat archaic feel. The limited color palette further enhances this effect, creating a sense of harmony. Though the artist tragically died young, works such as this allow us to see him engaging with the democratizing potential of printmaking, using relatively low-cost materials and techniques to create images that resonate across social boundaries. Understanding this material and its making is key to appreciating the work's intended accessibility and impact.