Street Musicians c. 1930

Alexander Zerdin Kruse made this monochromatic print, Street Musicians, sometime between 1890 and 1972. I can imagine him creating a kind of choreography of mark-making to create a real sense of movement in the piece, and the energy of street musicians. I love the cross-hatching used to build the form of the three musicians and the wonderful contrast he creates. His lines appear to dance and vibrate. The men are pressed together, as if connected by the music they are making. It’s almost claustrophobic. The artist's marks give the impression of texture and depth; that the material somehow carries an emotional charge. I think of the way the men’s hats almost mirror those in the shop behind them. So many hats, so many lives! Ultimately, the artwork becomes a site of inquiry, inviting viewers to engage with its ambiguity and uncertainty and to explore the multitude of meanings it might hold.