Fish Market 1933

Will Barnet made this print, Fish Market, sometime in the 20th Century. It’s rendered in subtle variations of tone, which gives the work an impressive sense of depth and atmosphere. Barnet's work emphasizes process; you can see the marks of the artist’s hand in the build-up of lines creating shadowy depths around the figures of the fishmongers and their customers. The surfaces are rich and activated, a testament to the physicality of mark-making. I love the way the lines define the wood of the barrel, how they curve and follow the form. The butcher’s apron is a lovely study of contrasting marks, as is the subtle cross-hatching of the faces. Barnet has a lot in common with artists like Kathe Kollwitz. He shares a similar focus on the human figure and the working classes. I would say his treatment of line is less expressionistic but it’s clear they’re both interested in humanizing labor, and drawing attention to the everyday.