Engine Aloft c. 1938

James E. Allen made this lithograph, Engine Aloft, using ink on paper. Look closely, and you can see how he built up the image with many tiny marks. It’s like he’s thinking through the process, one little stroke at a time. The density of the marks really grabs me. See how Allen creates depth and volume? The heavy, dark engine hangs in the air, casting a shadow over the workers below. The texture almost feels gritty, like you could reach out and touch the rough surface of the metal. And the contrast! The stark light and shadow make the whole scene feel dramatic, maybe even a little dangerous. Notice the way he renders the tiny figures beneath the engine. There is one figure, arm raised, perhaps directing the others. These details remind me of Diego Rivera's industrial murals. Both artists capture the scale of human endeavor, but Allen’s print has an intimacy that pulls you right in. It’s about the power of industry, but it’s also about the artist's hand, the way he coaxes the image out of the stone.