Lake Winnepseaukee 1936 - 1939

Isaac J. Sanger made this wood engraving, Lake Winnepesaukee, sometime in the 20th century. Look how the light and shadow are carved into the block! The process here is so evident, right? Check out how Sanger renders the tree on the right, it’s practically glowing. And the mountain range beyond the lake, with those scratchy clouds above, feels so expansive despite the diminutive size of the print. I love how all the detail creates a sense of depth. You can almost smell the pine needles! It reminds me of other artists like Rockwell Kent, who were working in a similar vein, capturing the American landscape with such sensitivity and skill. Sanger’s art invites us to consider how different ways of seeing and experiencing the world are constructed. It’s like a conversation, carried out over time, between artists, ideas, and places.