The Shepherd's Boy and the Wolf 1950

Antonio Frasconi created this woodcut print, "The Shepherd's Boy and the Wolf", and the process of woodcut lends itself to bold decisions. Look at the way Frasconi carves his figures out of the block, creating stark contrasts between light and shadow. It feels raw, immediate, like he's wrestling with the material. There's a real physicality to the medium here – you can almost feel the gouge of the blade. What I love about woodcut is the way the grain of the wood becomes part of the image. See those parallel lines which build up the dark areas? That's the tool, working against the matrix. It's a conversation between the artist and the material. Take the shepherd boy’s face – his exaggerated features and open mouth communicate a sense of panic and urgency, which is offset by the solid black silhouette of his body. Frasconi's work often engages with themes of social justice and political commentary, a bit like Käthe Kollwitz. "The Shepherd’s Boy and the Wolf" reminds us that art doesn't have to be slick or polished to be powerful. It's about making choices, taking risks, and embracing the unexpected.