Brother Can You Spare a Dime? c. 1933 - 1936

Albert Potter made this print, sometime around the 1930s, using wood engraving. The high contrast and intricate line work are really striking. It makes me think about artmaking as a process of carving away, revealing something hidden beneath the surface, much like life itself. The stark black and white creates a real sense of drama. The texture is incredible – dense, chaotic lines building up to form a poignant narrative of urban life during the Depression. Look at the way Potter renders the crowd, a sea of faces with barely any space in between. Each mark feels urgent, reflecting the desperation of the era. The towering skyscrapers and glaring advertisements are both symbols of promise and oppression. The skeletal figure looming above them reminds us of the ever-present shadow of death. It reminds me a bit of the German Expressionists, like Otto Dix or Käthe Kollwitz. These artists weren't afraid to confront difficult truths, to explore the darker aspects of the human experience. Potter does something similar here, using art as a form of social commentary, a way to provoke thought and inspire change. And that's what makes art so powerful, isn't it? Its ability to hold multiple meanings, to spark conversations, and to keep us questioning the world around us.