The Tornado 1932

John Steuart Curry made this lithograph, “The Tornado,” back in 1932, and it is full of swirling lines and nervous energy. Can’t you feel the earth trembling beneath your feet? I can just imagine Curry, his brow furrowed in concentration, guiding the lithographic crayon across the stone, each stroke building up this scene of impending doom. The way he’s rendered the sky—dark and ominous—it's like a bad dream. But then, there’s this sense of urgency in the family’s movements, a raw, animal instinct to protect themselves. It’s like he’s not just showing us a tornado, but also the quiet desperation of rural life, the constant threat of nature's power. Look at how the wind seems to be blowing the image itself! It’s as if the whole scene is trying to escape the pull of the tornado. And that dog barking at the wind? What would Guston make of that?! Of course, Curry was part of the Regionalist movement, and this image is such a powerful statement. It speaks to the shared experience of survival in the face of overwhelming forces, reminding us of our human connection to one another and to the land.