Wisher c. 1960

"Wisher," a woodcut print by Charles Michael Daugherty, c. 1960, depicts a stylized black cat with an oversized eye, looking directly at the viewer. The print is characterized by its bold, graphic lines and stark contrast between black and white. The simplification of forms and geometric composition exemplify Daugherty's artistic style, which was influenced by both modernism and folk art. The work’s title and the cat’s intense stare suggest a sense of longing or desire.