Cock Fight III. 1971

Rudolf Láng created this dynamic print, "Cock Fight III," using linocut, a relief printmaking technique. The intense red ground throws the stark white figures of the roosters into sharp relief, and the texture of the cut linoleum is evident, adding a raw, energetic feel. Linocut is a close relative of woodcut, but using linoleum allows for softer, more fluid lines. Here, Láng masterfully uses these qualities to capture the aggression and tension of the cockfight, all through a reductive, almost brutal method. The image is not just a representation of the subject, but an index of the labor required to produce it. Láng would have needed considerable force to carve away the linoleum, leaving only the roosters to catch the ink and create the final image. The print connects with traditions of both craft and fine art, and speaks volumes about the amount of work involved in bringing such a powerful image to life.