Invasion c. 1940s

Merritt Mauzey’s print *Invasion* is a study in black and white lines depicting a rural scene of trees, horses and one determined worker in what appears to be a field. When I look at this image, I imagine Mauzey outside in the American midwest, his hand firmly gripping the tool as he etches and scratches, pulling back layers to reveal the stark contrast of light and dark, the texture of the wood, and the composition of a world that is both hard and lovely at the same time. You can almost feel the tension in the line, the rhythm and weight of the scene as it unfolds. The artist's mark is clearly visible in the heavy foreground: each stroke shows the intention to document the scene, but also to feel the weight of the labor of taming the landscape. I think about how artists like Mauzey are in conversation across time, inspiring creativity through their work.