Pomegranates & Grapes 1920 - 1925

William S. Rice made this color woodcut print of pomegranates and grapes sometime in the early to mid-twentieth century. The colours are laid down in a bold flat way, so you can really feel the process, the decisions. It's not trying to trick you into thinking it's real life. And look at how the butterfly is like a piece of collage, just hanging out next to the fruit. The texture in this piece is amazing, isn't it? You can almost feel the grain of the wood and the soft fuzz of the paper. I’m drawn to the squiggly gold pattern on the bowl holding the fruit, it's like a secret code that adds this whole other layer to the piece. This print reminds me a little of Arthur Dove, because they both played with these simplified shapes and weird color combos that just stick in your head. Art is this amazing conversation, right? Always borrowing, always riffing. It's never about getting it "right," it's about seeing what happens when you mess around and try new things.