Nausicau (from James Joyce's Ulysses) 1944

Bernard Zawisa created this abstract print called ‘Nausicau’ with graphic ink on paper. The labor-intensive process of printmaking is front and center here. It is likely that Zawisa used a sharp tool to manually carve the image into a block, probably made of linoleum or wood. The many textures visible here were produced with careful, controlled cuts. These are then blackened with ink, pressed onto paper, and repeated in editions. The intense, concentrated work and mark-making is obvious upon close viewing. The visual language of abstraction is rooted in early 20th-century avant-garde movements like Cubism and Futurism. The overall composition gives the impression of a world shattered and reassembled. In its time, printmaking was aligned with progressive politics and social commentary. It could be widely distributed and had associations with working-class culture. In this context, Zawisa’s choice of medium, combined with the fragmented composition, suggests themes of modern life, labor and industry. It is a powerful statement made through the artist's chosen materials and techniques.