Untitled (Still Life) c. 1929

Katharine Schlater made this untitled still life print using black ink on a block, at an unknown date. The composition is arranged with an angular dynamism, all jutting diagonals and stark contrasts. There is a real sense of play in the push-pull between positive and negative space; the shapes of the objects are defined as much by what's been carved away as by what remains. Look at the lower third of the composition, where lines curve to suggest a body or a table; these are not solid forms, but are built up from careful parallel lines and areas of pure unprinted white. Schlater's print reminds me a little of the graphic work of someone like Max Beckmann, who also used bold black lines to define emotionally charged and abstracted figures. Like Beckmann, there's a sense that Schlater is interested in embracing multiple perspectives and interpretations through her work, allowing the viewer to project their own feelings and experiences onto the scene. The ongoing conversation and exchange of ideas are central to the nature of art, and this piece has plenty to say.