The Attic Window 1920

Mildred McMillen made "The Attic Window" in black ink on cream paper. What I see is an attic space, beams holding up the ceiling, and an artist standing, hands on her hips, in front of a window. I can almost feel the artist carving into the block, deciding what to leave in relief and what to cut away. I imagine her thinking about light and shadow, about the shapes that make up this intimate scene. The starkness of the black ink creates a sense of drama. It's like a stage set, with the artist as the main character. What do you think she’s thinking? Is this a self-portrait or a portrait of another artist? This print reminds me of other artists who work with interiors, like Vilhelm Hammershøi. These are images of quiet contemplation. Artists are always responding to one another. When we make a painting, we are contributing to a long, ongoing conversation. We are not only expressing ourselves but also expanding the possibilities of what painting can be.