I Got a Good Mind To Cut You Adrift 1957

This drawing, "I Got a Good Mind To Cut You Adrift" was made by Herbert Lawrence Block. It seems to be pencil on paper, and I love the way the shading gives everything volume. There’s a real feeling of menace here, isn’t there? The drawing style is pretty tight, especially in the details of the ship, or rather, the Supreme Court. Then you notice that the ocean is rendered with these quick, looping marks that give it a choppy, energetic feel. The contrast with the huge, static ship makes the image come alive. Look at the confident line of the ship's hull, bearing down on the tiny boat of "power-happy politicians". It seems like Block is pitting the weight of an institution against the perceived antics of a few individuals, and that contrast is really compelling. It makes you think about power, who has it, and how they use it, doesn’t it? This work reminds me of some of the graphic art of someone like Emory Douglas, but with a very different inflection. Political art is an ongoing conversation, always responding to the moment.