Untitled (Explosion) c. 1938

Curator: Immediately, I'm struck by the stark contrasts and high energy. Editor: Let's delve into that. We're looking at "Untitled (Explosion)," a woodcut print from around 1938 by Bertram Reibel. Curator: The use of black and white really amplifies the sense of drama. It's raw, immediate. And the figures… what's their context? Editor: Exactly! It depicts two figures—one with an almost manic expression, the other more stoic—against a backdrop that could be interpreted in myriad ways. Given the date, and the medium itself, I see potential social commentary. Are we looking at figures of the working class, perhaps juxtaposed with elements hinting at societal upheaval, like an "explosion"? And notice how these objects held by the figures seem like guns or wood—tools of work? or defense? Curator: It could also represent a collective or resistance to oppressive conditions. And the stark medium, a woodcut print, makes it feel handmade. Not an artwork intended for commercial gain, instead of getting right down to what is being felt—and seen! Editor: I think you’ve made a pivotal point. This brings into view a crucial tension. Expressionism—especially through a readily reproducible medium such as printmaking, could represent both personal artistic release and call attention to mass politics during an era of conflict. Do you believe the production method amplifies a feeling of authenticity and direct connection with the labor? Curator: Undoubtedly. And consider that printmaking democratizes access to the image. A message can be disseminated much more broadly when the work is affordable and portable. Editor: Precisely. By looking closely at its method and what is depicted in stark terms and images, we understand a larger message around access, labor, class, identity, resistance... all of it, which adds critical texture for today. Curator: Thank you! Thinking more about it—these bold lines, these rough-hewn shapes. This artwork doesn’t just show—it demands something. Editor: I agree completely. I came to it ready to read of political struggles through form, but leave excited to reflect now on today's global realities!