Figure 1919 - 1920

Max Weber made this print, *Figure*, using woodcut; a process that’s as old as the hills, really. It’s all about carving away at a block of wood, inking what’s left, and pressing it onto paper. Look at this image! The way Weber used the woodcut, makes me think of the relationship between positive and negative space – what you take away is just as important as what you leave behind. The texture is incredible, all those tiny marks from the wood grain give it a real tactile quality. See how the figure is built up from simple shapes, almost like a puzzle, and how the dark red ink creates a strong contrast against the white paper. I love the way Weber simplified the human form here, it reminds me a little of Picasso's cubist portraits, but with a more folksy, handmade feel. And just like with Picasso, it's less about representation than about building something new from pieces.