Fish Pier 1953

Winifred Milius Lubell made this block print, Fish Pier, sometime around 1953. Look at how she's handled the contrast between black and white. It's so bold, so direct, like she’s carving away at the world to find the image within. I love the way the surface feels almost tactile, even though it’s just ink on paper. The deep blacks are so absolute, and the whites feel like gashes cut into the surface, revealing the light underneath. Notice the way she renders the scales of the fish, those little white lines catching the light. It’s such a simple gesture, but it brings the whole scene to life. There’s a real sense of movement, of activity, as if you can almost smell the salt and the fish in the air. This piece reminds me of some of the woodcuts of the German Expressionists, like Heckel or Kirchner, with their raw energy and social themes. But Lubell brings her own unique voice to the conversation, a voice that's both powerful and deeply human.