Untitled (Soldier of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade) 1937

This image of a soldier of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade was made by Michael Lenson, and the date of its making is unknown. It's a print, and the mark-making is striking – almost brutal – in its directness. You can see the artist working and thinking through the process. There's a real physicality to this piece. Look at how the lines create a kind of density, especially around the figure's arms and the burning buildings in the background. The stark contrast between light and shadow adds to the emotional weight, evoking a sense of turmoil and resilience. Notice the soldier's face. The artist has used hatching and cross-hatching to give the skin texture and depth, really digging into the surface to bring this figure to life. The directness of Lenson’s mark-making reminds me of Käthe Kollwitz, whose unflinching depictions of war and social injustice share a similar emotional intensity. Ultimately, this piece is a powerful reminder that art is an ongoing dialogue, a conversation across time and cultures, and that meaning is always open to interpretation.