Barber Shop 1940

Jacob Kainen made this lithograph, Barber Shop, in 1944. This print is so wonderfully graphic and contrasty! I love the bold shapes, almost woodcut-like, the way he’s carved out this space of the barber shop, full of light and shadow. I can imagine Kainen at his litho stone, drawing with grease crayon, the way he moves his hand to make those hatch marks of the wall, and then that beautiful dark outline, a kind of nervous energy. I can imagine him thinking about all the other printmakers, like Kollwitz, and how they also described everyday life. It feels very human, this scene, the guy waiting, the iconic barber pole, the chair. Artists are always looking at each other’s work and having this silent conversation across time. It’s great to see Kainen join in, adding his voice! It's also great to know that what an artwork communicates isn't a fixed message, but a conversation, that shifts with the viewer and the times.