Workers of the World, Unite! 1937

Rockwell Kent made this print, Workers of the World, Unite!, using wood engraving, and you can really see the physicality of that process here. It’s all about carving away to reveal the image, a kind of sculptural approach to image-making. Look at the figure of the worker, the way Kent uses these really graphic lines to suggest form and muscle. It's so stylized, so bold. And then there’s the contrast – the stark black and white areas create this dramatic tension, giving the whole image a sense of urgency and power. Notice how the lines almost seem to vibrate, especially around the smoke and the industrial landscape in the background. Kent’s work reminds me a little of Käthe Kollwitz, in the sense of the social concerns evident in the work. But also in the way both artists use printmaking to create strong, impactful images with a real sense of purpose. It shows how art can be both a personal expression and a call to action.