The Undesired, No. 3 1948

William Ashby McCloy made this print, "The Undesired, No. 3," using a burin to cut into the plate and create a powerful image in shades of grey. It makes me think of a giant rising up, maybe from the earth itself, his huge hands clutching at barbed wire. He’s not just standing there; he's straining, pushing against something. I feel like McCloy’s hands must have been tired after carving all those tiny lines. There’s a younger figure beside him, and I wonder if McCloy was thinking about future generations, trapped by something unseen. It reminds me of other artists who weren't afraid to tackle tough subjects, like Kathe Kollwitz, with her unflinching portrayals of war and poverty. Artists, we are always wrestling with the world around us, trying to make sense of it, and hopefully sparking a little empathy along the way.