White Mansions 1945

Louis Lozowick made this black and white print, called White Mansions, using engraving to create an image of a snow-covered staircase leading up a hill into the woods. I feel like I can see Louis with his tools, carefully etching each tiny line. Imagine the focus and patience that takes! I can almost feel the cold seeping into the paper as he captures the stillness of the snow-laden branches. Each etched line is like a tiny decision, a mark that builds into a larger whole, slowly constructing the image, creating light and shadow, depth and texture. The tiny figure on the stairs invites you to walk up into the picture to explore. Lozowick was part of the Precisionist movement, who explored urban and industrial landscapes with an interest in the geometry of modern life. But this is a very different mood; it’s dreamlike and a little melancholy. It makes me think about how artists are always surprising you, shifting gears, and finding new ways to see the world. It reminds me that art is about the journey, the exploration, and the ongoing conversation between artists across time.