Standing Nude 1919 - 1920

Max Weber made this woodcut, Standing Nude, at an undetermined date. See how the simple shapes are constructed from dark ink and the white of the page. It's a really direct process, carving away at the wood to leave only what you want to print. I love the way the figure is placed in this ambiguous space, almost like she's emerging from the darkness. The marks are confident, even a bit rough, which gives the print a raw, immediate feel. Check out the way Weber uses the grain of the wood to suggest depth and texture in the shadows. It feels so tactile, like you could reach out and touch the surface of the wood. Weber was part of this exciting generation of early American modernists, like Marsden Hartley. Both were inspired by Cubism and Expressionism, and they developed their own unique visual language. His work reminds us that art is about taking risks, embracing the unexpected, and finding beauty in the everyday.