The Coral Necklace 1911

Henry Wolf created this image, titled *The Coral Necklace*, around the turn of the 20th century using a process called wood engraving. The process involves cutting a design into the end grain of a block of wood, typically boxwood, using specialized tools called gravers or burins. These tools allow for very fine, detailed lines. The image is then inked and printed onto paper, much like a traditional relief print. Wolf was a master of this technique. His skill is apparent in the subtle tonal variations and delicate textures he achieved here. In this portrait, Wolf is also drawing our attention to the material culture of his time, as the sitter is seen with a refined necklace and hat. The laborious process contrasts with the kind of status that the woman in the portrait enjoys. It highlights the contradictions of the Gilded Age, with its extremes of wealth and poverty. Wood engraving was a popular method for reproducing images in books and magazines before the advent of photography, and Wolf dedicated much of his work to these reproduction practices. His work asks us to consider the status of art and craft.