City on the Mountain (Stadt auf dem Berge) 1918

Lyonel Feininger made "City on the Mountain" using stark black lines on, what I imagine, must have been a pale ground. Look how the overall effect is a landscape punctuated by angular shapes suggesting buildings, and sharp, linear gestures implying light or shadow. I can only imagine what it was like for Feininger, wrestling with this woodblock, physically carving away at it. Thinking about how he balanced architectural precision with a kind of emotional abstraction, like a memory of a place rather than a literal depiction. There’s a lovely tension between order and chaos, the rigid lines hinting at structure, while the composition feels almost dreamlike. See that cluster of lines shooting out from behind the buildings on the right? It almost gives the impression of a hidden energy source. Feininger’s bold use of contrast resonates with the work of German Expressionists. But there is a lightness that sets him apart. For me, it's all about exploring the visual language of form and line. Each artist offering a unique perspective, a new way of seeing and experiencing the world.