Poodle 1912

Moriz Jung made this Poodle sometime before 1915 as a small-scale print. What strikes me is how Jung coaxes such texture out of a flat surface. Look at the poodle’s fur, it’s a dense network of lines, almost vibrating. He is so shaggy, the light catches in a multitude of places, turning the fur into a field of almost electrical energy. The black ink is opaque, yet there's a sense of depth. The contrast with the flat turquoise background is jarring, setting the dark form into stark relief. I love the feeling that this image could have been made anytime. It reminds me of a Kara Walker silhouette or perhaps a woodcut by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner. It is both ancient and modern, and suggests that the conversation between artists continues across the ages. This print celebrates the many possible ways of seeing and representing the world.