Plate I 1921

Editor: We’re looking at “Plate I” by Klaus Wrage, a woodcut print held in the Harvard Art Museums. The stark black and white contrast gives it a very dramatic, almost unsettling feel. What do you see in the composition of this piece? Curator: Indeed, the binary of black and white is paramount. Observe how the artist uses bold lines and contrasting shapes to define form. The composition seems to prioritize a tension between chaos and order. Editor: Chaos and order? How so? Curator: Note the angular lines converging behind the central figures, suggesting a vortex or maelstrom, yet these are contained within the rectangular frame. It creates a visual dialectic. Editor: I hadn't considered that. It’s more complex than I initially thought! Curator: Precisely. The artist invites us to consider the interplay of these formal elements.