Card-Playing Fishermen 1953 - 1954

Robert von Neumann made "Card-Playing Fishermen" with lithographic crayon and ink. It’s all about mark making, and the push and pull of dark and light. The lithographic crayon is so good at creating textures, and Neumann really uses that here. Look at the planks of the deck, and the rough clothing of the fishermen, you can almost feel the grain. Then there’s the water, smooth and shiny, or the sky. These are all marks, but they give you so much information! Notice the way the light catches on the back of the central figure. This is where Neumann directs our gaze, the focal point of the composition. I am reminded of the paintings of the French artist, Gustave Courbet, especially his scenes of everyday life. There is a similar focus on the working man, and a lack of idealization. But unlike painting, there's a graphic element to this print that allows for bold statements. There's a conversation between artists that keeps going, a reminder that art never exists in a vacuum.