Wolf, Blind in One Eye 1957

Romas Viesulas made this print, “Wolf, Blind in One Eye,” with color lithography, a printmaking process that relies on the subtle interactions of grease and water. The stone, or metal plate, is treated so that the image areas attract ink, while the non-image areas repel it. Here, we see the artist using this process to expressive effect. Note the textured background, achieved by manipulating the plate. The colors are layered, giving a sense of depth and complexity to what could have been a flat image. Viesulas doesn't hide the method, we see the marks of his hand. We are left with a feeling of immediacy and rawness, appropriate for the subject matter of the artwork. Ultimately, the power of this print lies not only in its imagery, but also in its embrace of the lithographic process, reminding us that art is as much about the making as it is about the image.