Civilization in Flight, Guernica, 1937 1937

Theo Hios made this stone print titled 'Civilization in Flight, Guernica' in 1937, and the mark-making here is so immediate, right? It feels like Hios is carving into the unknown, trying to grasp something urgent and raw. The texture is everything in this piece; the stark contrast between light and shadow evokes a deep emotional response. Look at the way the lines are scratched and layered; you can almost feel the artist's hand at work. Notice particularly how the figure in the foreground is all dark shapes and tonal blending, yet the faces of the figures retain a surprising amount of detail. The print reads like a memory of a nightmare that can't quite be focused into a clear picture. This piece reminds me of Kathe Kollwitz's woodcuts, sharing that same sense of grief and social consciousness. But ultimately, Hios creates something uniquely his own—a powerful statement that embraces the uncertainties of existence.