Untitled (Men, Rifles, Fire) c. 1938

William Jacobs made this striking woodcut, probably in the mid-20th century, and called it, simply, *Men, Rifles, Fire*. The limited palette and bold marks create a strong emotional impact. It feels raw, urgent, and immediate. Look at the way Jacobs uses the black ink to define the figures. The contrast between the dark shapes and the white paper is stark. The texture is determined by the grain of the wood and the cuts made by the artist's tools. Notice the area depicting the figures in the background, their arms raised in distress or fear. The white spaces carved out around their bodies are like screams. The rough, almost crude, carving adds to the emotional intensity, conveying a sense of chaos and violence. Jacobs’s work brings to mind the graphic power of German Expressionist woodcuts, like those of Käthe Kollwitz, who also explored themes of war, poverty, and human suffering. Art can be so many things: a shout, a whisper, a story, a question. It’s up to us to listen.