Ice Harvest c. 20th century

Editor: This wood engraving is titled *Ice Harvest* by George Holt. I’m struck by the labor it depicts and the contrast between the figures in the foreground and the workers further back. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Consider the materiality of wood engraving itself. Its reliance on physical labor mirrors the ice harvesting depicted. The stark contrast emphasizes the physical exertion required, and what it meant to pre-industrial communities. Does it elevate or critique this labor? Editor: That's interesting. Seeing the process as part of the meaning makes me think about the value of that labor in a new way. Curator: Indeed. The print becomes a record of both physical labor and artistic production, intertwined.