The English Embankment at snow 1923

This is Mstislav Dobuzhinsky's "The English Embankment at snow," a print made with lithography. The texture of the lithographic crayon comes alive in the snowdrifts and the overcast sky, giving a tactile sense to the chill in the air. The medium itself contributes to the mood. Lithography is a printmaking process, based on the simple idea that oil and water don't mix. The artist draws an image on a flat stone or metal plate with a greasy crayon, then treats the surface so that ink only sticks to the drawn areas, allowing the image to be printed. Dobuzhinsky's choice of lithography is significant; it allowed him to create multiple copies of his work, making it more accessible to a wider audience, and responding to social issues of labor and consumption. The mechanical process reflects the rise of industrialization and the changing urban landscape. Ultimately, understanding the materials, process, and context of Dobuzhinsky's print allows us to appreciate its full meaning, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and graphic art.