Organizational Advances c. 1933 - 1936

Albert Potter made this woodcut, Organizational Advances, sometime between the two World Wars. It’s all about the push and pull of black and white, solid shapes and chaotic textures, printed to create something that feels both old-timey and utterly modern. Check out the signs these folks are carrying: "Venus Beauty, 10 cents," "Snappy Clothes," – the linework is so direct, it almost hurts, you know? But then, you look at the shapes, the masses of black, and the way they push against the stark white, and there’s a real formal intelligence at play. It's a busy composition, but somehow, Potter keeps it all in check. For me, this piece has echoes of artists like Otto Dix, using printmaking to say something about the world, but there's also something really unique about Potter's approach. This is art that's not afraid to be direct, a little rough around the edges, and full of attitude.