Polakt 1936

Mikuláš Galanda made this intriguing lithograph, likely on paper, using a black and white palette. The image feels carved out, like a sculptor working in subtractive space. For me, that's how making art often feels, like you're searching for something that already exists. The texture is really captivating; you can see the marks of the litho crayon, the density of the lines creating depth and shadow. The figure looks like it's emerging from the darkness, or maybe sinking into it. The composition is so dynamic and the figure feels like it’s in motion. I love how he uses the line to create volume, the repeated hatching defining the contours of the body. Galanda's use of light and shadow reminds me a bit of Käthe Kollwitz, another artist who used printmaking to explore powerful themes with a strong sense of graphic impact. Art's a conversation, right? It's always echoing and evolving. This piece is a reminder that art isn't about answers, it's about opening up new ways of seeing and feeling.