Rabbi Reading 1919 - 1920

Max Weber made this woodcut print, Rabbi Reading. The way Weber carved the wood gives the image a bold, graphic quality; like a puzzle of interlocking shapes. It's almost as if the artist is thinking about the act of reading as something constructive, brick by brick. I wonder what it was like for Weber to carve this image, each cut deliberate. The rabbi appears engrossed, holding a book; and there's a sense of quiet concentration. I love how the lines of the beard mimic the lines of the book, drawing a connection between the text and the person, as if the words are flowing through him. Weber was part of a generation exploring new forms of expression. Looking at this, I think about artists like Marsden Hartley or even some of the German Expressionists. There was a real interest in spirituality, in trying to capture something deeper through simplified forms. Ultimately, this print feels like an invitation to slow down and to appreciate the power of contemplation.