Extreem geweld tegen arbeiders 1920

Mihály Biró made this print, "Extreme violence against workers," at some unknown date, and with an unknown printmaking method, but probably lithography. There is a real rawness to the marks that make up this image; you can really feel Biró working through the process. The image has been divided into two parts, with a stark edge bisecting the scene. On the left, the officers are rendered in cold blues and greys, while on the right they appear in warmer tones. What makes this image so compelling is the way the texture of the printmaking feels agitated and raw, reflecting the emotion of the scene. The lines seem scratched into the surface. In the background, the building labelled 'Statarium' has been coloured in a solid red, a visual anchor that draws the eye and evokes a sense of urgency. The Expressionist Ernst Ludwig Kirchner explored similar themes in his prints. Like Biro, he was interested in the power of raw emotion in mark making.