The Weavers 1943

Leopoldo Méndez made this print called The Weavers with, what looks like, sharp tools to carve an image out of a block of wood. Imagine the artist thinking about how to cut away the negative space around the image to make these figures stand out. I can just imagine the feeling of pulling away the wood to reveal the figures. It is a physical process that requires strength and control. Just think of the decisions made to create the composition and how each cut will impact the final image. The figures look as though they are working together, heads close to each other, with hands moving. I imagine Méndez considering how the woven textile connects with the figures working and perhaps how these two elements might reflect each other. The act of making this print must have been a conversation between intention and the physical demands of the process.