San Francisco Waterfront Strike 1934

Herman Volz made this lithograph, 'San Francisco Waterfront Strike' in 1934. The high contrast of the monochromatic medium gives this image a stark and immediate quality. The artist’s hand feels very present in the image, particularly in the tonal variation in the figures clothing, created with hatching and cross-hatching. Take a look at the hand in the lower left corner. The artist has captured the limpness of the body in the rendering of the hand, making this one of the focal points in the image. The hand draws us in to the prone figure, which is surrounded by further victims of violence. This sense of depth is further enhanced by the use of linear perspective, particularly in the architecture to the right. It is the use of light and shade which brings the drama of the event to life. Perhaps the influence of German Expressionism can be detected here. But in any case, this print encourages us to reflect on social injustice, as it captures a moment of raw and visceral human experience.