Coquette 1934

Agnes Miller Parker created this print titled "Coquette" using wood engraving. Imagine the patience it must have taken, the careful carving away at the wood to create these contrasting textures and forms. It's easy to get lost in the details here, especially the way the orchid looms over the feline figure below. I think of the image as a kind of theatre or stage, lit in such a way that every shape appears bold. The cat becomes a kind of player caught in the drama of the composition, its attention held by the flower above. What do you make of the way the artist contrasted the cat and flower? Do you think there's a particular mood or feeling at play in the piece? Miller Parker worked a lot with nature; she made illustrations for folk tales and books. I see her as part of a conversation that includes lots of printmakers like Kathe Kollwitz. What do you make of this community?