Father Leaving Home with Suitcase c. 20th century

Curator: This is Harry Sternberg's print, "Father Leaving Home with Suitcase". The stark black and white creates a mood of somber finality. Editor: It is interesting how the figure nearly blends into the background. The woodcut technique emphasizes the materiality of the print. Curator: The symbolic imagery is very strong. The man's suitcase, his hat, and the dark waters all speak to themes of displacement and the uprooting of traditions. Editor: And see how the shape containing the home mirrors the man's figure, but inverted? It gives the composition a visual balance. Curator: The home inside this strange shape shows the memory that he carries with him, no doubt. He carries with him a way of life. Editor: So the woodcut is not just about the figure leaving home, but about the structure of memory and loss itself. Curator: Indeed, it's a powerful exploration of departure. Editor: Precisely. It leaves you with a sense of melancholy.