Untitled (Soldier of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade) 1937

Michael Lenson made this work, Untitled (Soldier of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade), using hatching to build up tone and form. The image is mostly monochrome, shades of gray and black, which gives it a serious and sombre feel. I can imagine Lenson hunched over a desk, the pencil scratching as he tries to capture the inner strength and weariness of this soldier. What was he thinking as he shaded in the worry lines on his face? The buildings are burning in the background. The soldier is in the foreground, maybe he is reflecting on what he has seen. His work reminds me of Kathe Kollwitz's prints which also focused on the suffering of ordinary people during wartime. It's like these artists are in constant dialogue, each adding their voice to the chorus, creating a powerful reminder of the human cost of conflict. Like they are making images that invite us to pause, reflect, and maybe, just maybe, learn something from the past.