Struggle 1948

Morton Levin made this intaglio print, sometime in the mid twentieth century. The mark-making is everything in this piece, isn't it? The lines feel carved out, raw and physical. The texture and physicality of the medium is really powerful. Look closely at the dark areas of the print. There's a density there, almost like a storm cloud brewing. The artist has used these marks to create a feeling of weight and resistance. The struggle depicted isn’t just about the physical labor. It feels emotional, internal. There is something about the way it is done that makes me think of the earlier, German Expressionist artist, Kathe Kollwitz. Both artists share a commitment to using their art to depict the struggles of working-class people. It is up to us to decide what the ultimate meaning of this piece is, if there is one at all.