Pipes of Pan #3 1958

Ernest Bradfield Freed made this woodcut print called 'Pipes of Pan #3'. Imagine Freed carefully carving into a block of wood, each gouge and slice a deliberate act of removal, leaving behind only the parts that will carry ink. The stark contrast of black ink on white paper creates a dynamic tension, a push and pull of positive and negative space. You can feel the artist’s hand in the bold, angular lines and geometric shapes. I wonder what Freed was thinking about as he made this, what moved him to try to capture the mythical god Pan? The lines feel improvisational and spontaneous, like he’s almost wrestling with the wood. In a strange way, this bold print reminds me of the work of the German Expressionists with its raw energy and emotional intensity. We can feel the history of printmaking, of mark making, flowing through Freed’s hands. These techniques have been around for so long and continue to evolve as artists borrow, steal, and riff off one another.