Untitled (Delivery By Rail) 1949

Lynd Kendall Ward’s print, Untitled (Delivery By Rail), employs the stark contrast of black and white to construct a narrative of industry and labor, a powerful demonstration of the printmaker’s process. The eye is immediately drawn to the figure of the worker, his hand raised, perhaps in a signal, rendered with a precision that speaks to the artist's mastery of the medium. Look closely, and you’ll see how the texture is built through meticulous carving, the surface alive with the energy of Ward’s hand. I’m struck by the way the light emanates from the horizon, almost blinding in its intensity. It contrasts with the deep shadows that define the machinery and landscape. Ward’s work has this graphic punch that reminds me of some German Expressionist woodcuts, a shared intensity, but with a distinctly American flavor. Ultimately, this print invites us to consider the human element within the grand machinery of industry, a conversation that continues to resonate today.