Minor Arts in Santa Croce (Le arti minore in Santa Croce) 1968

Pietro Parigi made this dynamic woodcut, *Minor Arts in Santa Croce*, sometime in the 20th century. Can you imagine the dance between the artist and the wood? The give and take? The black ink pushed into each groove carved from the block. There's a bold contrast between the flat black and the areas where the white paper peeks through. See how the white tower pierces the dark sky? It feels like a deliberate act, a striking move. I can only imagine Parigi chipping away, making decisive cuts into the wood block with absolute certainty! And then there's the figure, poised and contemplative. She is rendered in such graphic clarity; the architectural forms resonate with a sculptural presence. It reminds me that we're all constantly in dialogue with those who came before, building on their experiments and pushing the conversation forward.