Untitled (Refinery Exterior) 1949

Lynd Kendall Ward made this dramatic wood engraving, Untitled (Refinery Exterior), sometime in the middle of the 20th century. You can really feel the process in the stark contrasts of black and white. It’s all about carving away to reveal the image, a dance of positive and negative space. The textures here are incredible. Look at the hatched lines creating stormy skies, versus the smooth, solid blacks of the worker’s clothing. The way the light catches the metallic structures – you can almost feel the grit and grime. Ward really knew how to use his tools, how to dig in and let the material speak. Notice the bold arm gesture directing our gaze upwards towards the towering refinery. It’s like he’s saying, “Look at this! Isn’t it amazing, and terrifying?” Ward’s work reminds me a bit of the German Expressionist woodcuts, like those by Käthe Kollwitz, sharing a similar intensity and social awareness. But Ward brings a uniquely American perspective, celebrating the industrial landscape with a healthy dose of awe and maybe even a little anxiety.