On the Quai (Auf der Quaimauer) 1921

Lyonel Feininger made this woodcut, “On the Quai” with ink on paper, and what grabs me is the solid black shapes against the yellow of the paper. It’s a dance between positive and negative, where the cut of the block defines not just form, but light itself. Look at the ships, reduced to their geometric essence, yet undeniably ships. The artist's hand is visible in the confident cuts, each line a decision. See how the hatching suggests depth in the water, a vibration that contrasts with the solid forms of the boats. The way the figures are simplified, almost abstracted, speaks to a universal human presence by the sea. Feininger’s background in architectural drawing is visible here, you know, the way he fractures space into these crystalline shards. This reminds me a little of the work of the cubists, who also explored how to see multiple angles at the same time. Like them, Feininger invites us to look, and then look again. What do you see?