On the Road to Mulberry c. 1935 - 1943

Sheffield Harold Kagy made this print, "On the Road to Mulberry" using wood engraving, sometime in the 20th century. The medium lends itself to the depiction of very fine detail, almost like the creation of a parallel world, and Kagy uses this process to describe a small area of the American landscape in a meticulous way. The textures in this piece are just amazing! Look at how he renders the furrows of the field, it's as if each blade of grass has its own little shadow. He gives everything such a deep sense of volume, and the black and white creates a powerful contrast. There is a balance between the heavy blacks of the foreground and the lighter shades in the sky. The road stretching into the distance leads the eye back into the composition, while the windmill and the farm buildings create a sense of place. It reminds me a little of Grant Wood’s landscapes, or maybe even some of the printmakers from the WPA era. It seems to encapsulate the same spirit and is a great example of how a simple scene can evoke a whole world of feeling.