Calcio (Soccer) 1958

Clare Romano made this print, Calcio, which means soccer in Italian, using black ink on a white sheet of paper. The image is made from carving into a block, and printing the remaining raised surface, which gives it that graphic, high contrast look. I love the way the figures are caught in this moment of intense play, with their angular bodies and expressive gestures. You can almost feel the energy of the game, as the players compete for possession of the ball, which hangs in the sky like a dark moon. Look at how Romano uses the contrast of black and white to create a sense of depth and movement, especially in the wild grass, made up of simple lines that burst with life. Romano was known for her printmaking, and her work often focused on capturing scenes of everyday life. She reminds me a little of Kathe Kollwitz, in the way she uses the graphic power of the black line to convey emotion. Isn’t it amazing how artists can use simple materials to create such vivid images that speak to universal experiences?