Riders on Street Car 1947

Rudolph Pen made this print, Riders on Street Car, most likely using lithography, judging by the tonal variations, sometime in the 40's. The piece really captures the feeling of being packed into a public space with other bodies. It's all in how he builds up the tones, those fuzzy, smudgy marks and lines, that create a great sense of depth. See how the window behind the characters is barely defined with quick, blurred strokes? Looking at the faces, you can sense the artist relishing each mark. The lines aren't trying to be perfectly representational but instead suggest the essence of the people. I love that the image doesn’t conceal the process of its making – each mark, each smudge, is visible and raw. I'm reminded of Käthe Kollwitz, another artist who used printmaking to depict everyday life with an incredible sensitivity. Ultimately, art is about communication, and this print speaks volumes, even without saying a word.