Horse 

Bernard Reder crafted this linocut, titled "Horse," using stark black ink on paper. The composition immediately strikes you with its tension between the abstract and the representational. The horse, depicted in bold strokes, is almost secondary to the geometric forms that surround it. A large spiral dominates the lower portion, its radiating lines contrasting with the rough, textured block behind the animal. Reder's use of negative space is crucial here. The white areas aren't merely blank; they define the shapes and contours of the horse and its environment. This interplay of positive and negative, black and white, invites us to question traditional notions of figure and ground. The linocut's crude cuts and the lack of shading add to the image's raw energy. This print isn't just a picture of a horse; it's a study in contrasts, a play with form, and a challenge to our perceptions.