Block for 'Nocturne, Wynyard Square' 1932

This is the block for 'Nocturne, Wynyard Square', made by Dorrit Black in the early twentieth century. The overall impression is a stark, almost brutalist cityscape rendered through deep, deliberate gouges in the block’s surface. The monochromatic palette further emphasizes the work's structural qualities. Black’s technique transforms familiar urban elements into an almost abstract landscape, destabilizing our conventional understanding of space and form. Each line and shape seems to operate as a sign, hinting at buildings, streets, and perhaps even the night sky. The artist manipulates perspective and texture to challenge fixed meanings. Notice how the artist uses the formal constraints of printmaking to engage with broader philosophical ideas about perception and representation. This work invites ongoing interpretation, as the signs embedded within the block's structure continue to resonate across time.