Mitya is Disgraced (Book IX: Preliminary Investigation, facing p.374) 1949

Fritz Eichenberg made this wood engraving, “Mitya is Disgraced,” to illustrate Dostoevsky’s “The Brothers Karamazov." Look at the lines Eichenberg used; they aren't just outlines. Each one feels like it has weight and direction, a kind of choreography of despair. The texture here is palpable, isn't it? You can almost feel the rough fabric of their clothes, the coarse beards, the dampness of shame. It's all in these dense, dark lines. Notice the way he uses cross-hatching to build up shadows, creating depth and a real sense of claustrophobia. It reminds me of Käthe Kollwitz, also a master of using printmaking to convey deep emotion. The genius of this work is in the way Eichenberg makes such simple lines tell such a complex story. It’s a reminder that art isn’t about answers, but about asking the right questions, even if they make us uncomfortable.