Untitled (Urban Scene-Man & Smokestacks) c. 1935 - 1940

Irving G. Lehman made this striking print, Untitled (Urban Scene-Man & Smokestacks), with graphic black ink on paper. The image shows an abstract rendering of a cityscape; a cascade of sharply drawn buildings beneath a glowing crescent moon. I imagine Lehman carefully carving out each shape, stripping away at the wood to reveal these structures. It’s like he's excavating a city from the block itself. There is a solitary figure on the left side, gazing out at the scene; perhaps he is the artist himself? The lines are hard-edged, angular, and seem to build a precarious architecture. This contrasts with the more organic rendering of the sky and smokestacks which adds depth to the composition. Lehman’s vision reminds me of the German Expressionists, like Schmidt-Rottluff, who similarly sought to capture the dynamism and disquiet of modern urban life. The process of woodcut relies on a conversation between control and accident, between the artist’s intention and the surprising textures that emerge. It’s these contrasts which spark our attention and invite contemplation.