Untitled (Abstracted Figures) c. 1935 - 1940

This is a woodcut print of abstracted figures by Irving G. Lehman. To make this print, Lehman would have used chisels and gouges to carve away areas of a wood block. This is a subtractive process, where everything that is removed will appear white in the final print. The remaining raised areas are inked, and then the image is transferred to paper, leaving a bold impression. The stark contrast between black and white lends the print a graphic quality. The texture of the wood grain is visible in the black areas, adding a tactile dimension to the image. The figures are simplified into geometric shapes, their forms defined by sharp angles and bold lines. This process requires a combination of physical skill, and artistic vision. Ultimately, this woodcut invites us to consider the labor involved in its creation, and it blurs the lines between fine art and craft.