A Man a Boy and a Donkey 1950

Antonio Frasconi made this woodcut, A Man a Boy and a Donkey, and it's all about the stark contrast of black ink on paper, which I really dig because it’s so raw and direct, you know? The physicality of this print is amazing. You can almost feel the artist carving into the wood, leaving these crisp, deliberate lines. Notice the way the light catches on the man's face, it's a tiny detail, but it brings him to life, making you wonder about his story. And those eyes looking off into the distance… what's he thinking? It all gets at art’s ability to capture a moment, to freeze a feeling in time. Frasconi's work reminds me a little of Käthe Kollwitz, both artists use printmaking to explore social themes with such emotional punch. It's like they're inviting you into a conversation, urging you to see the world through their eyes, but also leaving plenty of room for you to bring your own experiences to the table.