Christoph Columbus - Ein Neuer Grosser Ocean-Vogel 1921

Johannes Molzahn made this black ink print, *Christoph Columbus - Ein Neuer Grosser Ocean-Vogel*, which translates as *Christopher Columbus - A New Great Ocean Bird*, and it really is a great bird! Imagine Molzahn chipping away at the block, pushing hard to create those stark, bold lines. There's a real sense of movement, like the bird—or the ship—is battling against the waves. I wonder if he was thinking about the uncertainty of Columbus's journey, the risks, and the unknown. The way Molzahn repeats those zigzags and stripes, it's almost hypnotic. It reminds me of other early twentieth-century artists like the German Expressionists, who were also trying to capture the raw energy of the modern world. The heavy black lines create a strong contrast, like a visual shout. It's a reminder that artists don't work in a vacuum; they're always responding to each other, building on what came before, and pushing the boundaries of what art can be. And that's how art evolves, through constant conversation and reinvention.