The Way thru the Woods 1947

Editor: This is "The Way thru the Woods" by Minna Citron. It is currently at the Harvard Art Museums. This printmaking work is quite interesting to me. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I am immediately drawn to the printmaking process itself. The labor-intensive carving and inking—what social realities of production does that point toward in Citron's time? Editor: So, you're saying we should consider how the work was made to understand its meaning? Curator: Exactly! The materiality speaks volumes. The texture, the contrast between the gold and black... How does the artist's manipulation of material challenge our notions of "high art"? Editor: I see what you mean. Thanks for helping me understand this piece better! Curator: My pleasure. It's fascinating how focusing on materials can unlock new perspectives.