The Burning Bush 1961

James Lesesne Wells made this woodcut print, titled "The Burning Bush," and the date is unknown. The density of the black lines carves out space, creating a kind of depth that is visually arresting. The dramatic contrast between light and dark feels raw, elemental, and the texture! You can almost feel the grain of the wood, its resistance, its very being. Look closely at Moses' beard. See how Wells uses tight, parallel lines to define its shape and texture? It’s almost sculptural, giving the figure a tangible presence. The way the light emanates from above, those vertical strokes, it’s as if the divine is actively intervening, not just illuminating but participating in the scene. Wells reminds me of artists like Emil Nolde, who understood the spiritual dimension of artmaking, the way a simple mark can evoke a whole world of feeling and meaning. Ultimately, this print resonates because it embraces the ambiguity of faith, the unknowable essence that makes us human.