The Lookout 1946

This woodcut, The Lookout, was made by Hans Orlowski. It looks to me like it was carved with a real urgency. You can see the pressure of the blade pushing through the material, making these expressive lines. I bet Orlowski was thinking about light and shadow, and how they sculpt the face. Those deep, dark cuts around the eyes and mouth, really give the figure a sense of depth and emotion. The hand shielding the eyes - what is he looking for, or looking at? It makes you wonder about Orlowski's state of mind. Was he feeling troubled, searching for answers? Or maybe he was just captivated by the human face and the stories it can tell. Artists like Orlowski have had a profound effect on artists like me, showing us how to find emotion, and narrative, in the everyday.