The Eastern Front 1942

Richard Correll made this print, The Eastern Front, at some point in the 20th Century. The stark black and white of the print is very striking, it feels as if the figures were carved into the surface. I can imagine Correll working on this, carefully cutting away at the block, deciding what to leave and what to remove. With each cut, the image emerges more clearly, a dance between intention and accident. Maybe he was thinking about the work of other printmakers such as Käthe Kollwitz, whose prints are known for the intensity of emotion, and bold contrasts. I’m drawn to the looming figure in the background, and the way the texture in the lines conveys a real sense of foreboding. It makes me wonder about the stories behind each of these soldiers, and their journey along the Eastern Front.