Country Road 1918

Editor: This is "Country Road," a woodcut print by Margarete Köhler held at the Harvard Art Museums. The stark contrast between the black ink and the white paper is really striking. What can you tell me about the process of making this piece? Curator: It's fascinating to consider the labor involved in such a work, isn't it? The artist meticulously carved away at a wood block, leaving only the raised areas to catch the ink. What does this repetitive, almost industrial, method say about artistic production at that time? Editor: So, it's not just about the image itself but the physical act of creating it. Curator: Precisely. The artist’s hand is present, but so is the influence of mass production. Consider the consumption of art at this time, and the shifting role of the artist within that economy. I find it quite compelling. Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way before. Thanks for broadening my perspective. Curator: My pleasure. It’s all about seeing the artwork within a wider material and social context.