Untitled (Foundry) 1946 - 1947

Leonard Pytlak made this Untitled Foundry print using serigraphy, also known as silkscreen printing, which gives it this incredible layered effect, and almost makes it feel like a painting. I love the way Pytlak builds up the image with these flat, almost stencil-like shapes of color, especially the way the oranges and yellows glow at the base, contrasting with the cool blues and browns in the rest of the composition. The surface has this great, tactile quality, where you can almost feel the individual layers of ink. Look closely, and you can see how the colors overlap and interact, creating depth and texture. It reminds me a bit of some of the WPA prints, but with a more personal, expressive touch. There is a sense of energy and movement in the way Pytlak uses color and form to capture the intensity of the foundry. It's a really powerful image.