Under the Bridge 1946

Harry Shoulberg’s print, “Under the Bridge,” is full of marks and colours that feel both like observation and expression. It's easy to imagine him there, block in hand, trying to capture the scene's essence, not just its appearance. The inky blues and purples give a sense of twilight, and that yellow sun - or is it the moon? - pulses with an energy that makes me think about how Shoulberg understood his own position in the world. I see the influence of the German Expressionists in his work, who were also trying to figure out ways to convey feeling through colour, form, and surface. Notice the texture, too—you can almost feel the grain of the block, the pressure of his hand as he printed each layer. It's like he’s inviting us to witness his process, his personal connection to the place. Isn't that what painting is, at its heart? It is a way to share a bit of yourself, your experience, with others, like a never-ending conversation across time.