Street in Yalta 1971

Yuri Ivanovich Mezentsev made this linocut, "Street in Yalta," in 1971, using black ink to carve out a scene that feels both familiar and dreamlike. The image revels in a high-contrast palette, a world of pure blacks and whites, pushing the boundaries of what a street scene can be. Look at how the artist handles the texture, all those lines! They're not just describing the scene, they're building it, stroke by stroke. The dark strokes define the architectural elements, while the white carves out space for figures moving through the setting. See the bridge and how the lines curve and converge, creating depth, almost pulling you into the composition. The overall effect is like a conversation between light and shadow. Mezentsev’s print reminds me of the graphic boldness of artists like Käthe Kollwitz, who similarly used printmaking to express emotion and perspective. Art isn't about finding one right answer, it's about keeping the conversation going.