April 1935 - 1943

This is April, a wood engraving by Fritz Eichenberg. Here, the artist used a block of wood as his matrix, cutting into it to create a design that is then inked and printed onto paper. The stark contrast between black and white is achieved by the way Eichenberg meticulously carved away the wood. The remaining raised areas receive the ink, transferring the image to the paper. You can see the incredible control needed for this kind of work. Look at the fine, parallel lines which give the impression of rain. Consider the way this material lends itself to strong, graphic images, and how this affects our reading of the scene. The social context is crucial here. This print was made as part of the Works Progress Administration’s Federal Art Project during the Great Depression. These projects put artists to work, giving them an income during a time of economic hardship. Eichenberg’s print embodies the era’s concerns: labor, class, and the role of authority. The image of city life, with its police presence and downtrodden figure, speaks volumes about the social realities of the time. The choice of wood engraving - a traditional, labor-intensive medium - further underscores the value of craft and making in understanding this work’s full meaning.