Bremen #2 1931

Howard Cook made this print called Bremen #2, using a black ink on paper. It’s a strong image, using the stark contrast of black and white to describe the scene. It’s all about process. You can see the marks of the artist’s tools so clearly – each line meticulously placed to build up tone and texture. Look closely at the sky. See those horizontal lines? They aren't just filling space; they’re creating mood, depth, and a sense of foreboding. The lines are very deliberate, close together in the darker areas, further apart where the artist wants to show light. The artist's hand is evident in every stroke. It’s a way of seeing the world, translating it through the process of making. This piece reminds me a bit of some of the German Expressionist printmakers, like Kirchner or Heckel. They were also interested in the expressive possibilities of line and the emotional impact of stark contrasts. But Cook brings his own American sensibility to the mix. Art is like a conversation, isn’t it? Artists riffing off each other, borrowing, and transforming ideas across time. And the best art always leaves room for us to bring our own interpretations, to find our own meanings in the marks and gestures.