Untitled (Electricity Generating Plant) 1922

Edgar Miller made this woodcut, Untitled (Electricity Generating Plant), sometime in the early twentieth century. Look at how Miller uses the stark contrast between black and white to convey the industrial scene. Each mark feels intentional, the result of a push and pull between control and chance. The heavy black ink gives weight to the architecture, those diagonal lines implying height and volume. Notice the cross-hatching, particularly in the foreground; it creates a tactile surface that mimics the rough textures of the factory. That smokestack in the middle looks like a distorted organ pipe, doesn’t it? It's almost comical. Miller’s loose, gestural approach gives this industrial landscape a surprisingly human feel. This reminds me of those German Expressionist woodcuts, where the urban world is rendered with a similar angst and energy. Like them, Miller’s print celebrates ambiguity, reminding us that art is not about fixed meanings but about sparking a conversation.