Two Indians 1953

This woodblock print, "Two Indians," was made by Roy Lichtenstein. Just imagine Lichtenstein taking up a chisel, digging into the wood, rerouting the material into these bold, graphic forms. It’s not paint slapped on a canvas, but something slower, more deliberate, more connected to the earth. I wonder if Lichtenstein felt this way as he was carving? See how the dark ink contrasts with the raw wood underneath? The texture gives this print a sculptural depth. I think of Gauguin who also made woodblock prints with imagery from other cultures. There's a similar search for some kind of primal image, something raw and connected to a shared human past. The blocky shapes and patterns feel both ancient and modern. Artists are always looking back and reaching forward at the same time. They are inspired by the past while making something entirely new. That’s what makes art so alive.