South of France 1930

Arnold Wiltz made this print titled 'South of France' in November 1930. It's all in black and white. Just imagine Wiltz, carefully carving into the block to make this image! I love the way the lines create these layers of hills and buildings. You can feel the sun beating down, that sharp, clear light. I wonder if he was sitting on a hillside himself when he sketched it out? You can almost feel the texture of the stone walls and the breeze rustling through the palm tree. There's something about the simplicity of the printmaking that makes you focus on the shapes. It reminds me of other artists from that time playing with landscapes and architecture. It's like they're all having a conversation. Each artist builds on what came before. Wiltz's artwork invites us to pause, to feel the warmth of the South of France, and connect with artists across time.