Steel Mills 1937

Harry Sternberg made this print called 'Steel Mills' using a plate, and it really captures the gritty feel of industrial landscapes. It's like he's wrestling with the metal itself. Look at how Sternberg uses the contrast between light and dark to create depth. The smokestacks and pipes become almost abstract shapes, yet they still manage to convey the overwhelming scale and intensity of a steel mill. It makes you think about the human cost of industry. I’m reminded of Piranesi's etchings of prisons: the way the lines build this overwhelming sense of scale and claustrophobia. The way he's scratched and etched into the plate, it’s raw, almost violent. Each mark feels deliberate, building up a surface that's both textured and incredibly detailed. There's a real physicality to it; you can almost feel the heat and noise of the mill. Art, like life, is an ongoing experiment, and in this print, Sternberg isn't afraid to get his hands dirty.