Go On! 1959

Jules Perahim made this print, Go On!, sometime in the mid-20th century, and I just love its graphic punch! The entire piece is rendered in high-contrast black and white, which gives it a strong, immediate impact. I can imagine Perahim, carefully carving away at the woodblock, thinking about light and shadow, about how to evoke a mood of furtive exchange. You have to wonder what the two figures are up to against that brick wall! There is a certain grittiness to the image, which is heightened by the rough texture of the woodcut. I think of other printmakers like Käthe Kollwitz or even some of the early 20th-century German Expressionists, all grappling with ways to portray human experience through stark, bold imagery. There is a kind of conversation happening across time and between artists, where each one builds upon what came before, pushing the boundaries of expression, like saying "Go On!" to each other. It’s exciting to be a part of that, you know?