Sweet Trumpet c. 1969

Andrene Kauffman made this black ink on paper print, probably in the mid-20th century. I love how the solid black presses up against the whiteness of the paper to make these faces emerge. It looks like Kauffman carved away at a block of wood, maybe, slowly revealing the shapes and forms of the artwork. I imagine her, carefully carving each line, each shape, allowing the image to emerge through trial and error. The faces are striking, with their strong noses and intense gaze. It reminds me of German Expressionist woodcuts. But it’s the repetition of these faces that really grabs me. They're almost like musical notes, echoing and harmonizing with each other. Are they singing? Are they listening? Maybe Kauffman wanted to capture a sense of collective emotion, like a chorus of voices coming together in song. Either way, "Sweet Trumpet" makes me want to pick up a tool and start carving myself.