Rabbi 1920

This is Max Weber's "Rabbi," a woodcut print. A woodcut is a relief printing process where an image is carved into a block of wood. The remaining raised areas receive ink, and when pressed onto paper, the image is transferred. Weber's choice of woodcut, with its inherent bold lines and graphic quality, powerfully conveys the Rabbi's solemnity. Look at the way the sharp cuts define the Rabbi’s intense gaze and the flowing lines of his beard. Woodcut, as a process, has a history linked to popular imagery, religious iconography, and later, the rise of expressionism, because of its suitability to convey bold messages and symbolic meanings. The relative ease and accessibility of woodcut as a medium meant it was often associated with more democratic forms of art production. By embracing this medium, Weber connects with a history of artmaking outside the traditional boundaries of painting or sculpture, suggesting the power and significance of everyday materials.