Collector's Items 1945

This print, "Collector's Items," by Grace Albee, looks to be a wood engraving, or something similar. What a complex world she has created! I am completely absorbed by all the different textures and moods that she pulls together. Imagine her, with her tools, slowly carving away at the block, letting the image emerge. The light from the window illuminates the vase of flowers, and then falls across the landscape outside, bringing the starkness of the winter trees into sharp focus. I am just mesmerized. Albee must have been looking at other artists when she made this. Artists are magpies, and we can’t help but collect and re-arrange the world around us! The way she merges the domestic and natural world reminds me of Japanese woodblock prints from the 19th century. It is as though the flowers and landscape are mirroring each other. There is something very calming about this print. I imagine it would offer something new each time you looked at it.