Loading 1931

Clare Leighton created this wood engraving, "Loading," using a painstaking method of carving an image into a block of wood, inking the surface, and then printing it onto paper. The stark contrast between the cut and uncut areas creates a dramatic interplay of light and shadow. Leighton's choice of wood engraving underscores the relationship between the artwork and its subject. Notice how the linear quality of the engraving mimics the texture and form of the logs being handled by the laborers. The process requires considerable skill, patience, and physical labor. The print provides a commentary on the relationship between human effort and the natural world. In highlighting the strenuous activity of loading logs, Leighton draws attention to the physical labor involved in the production and consumption of resources. This challenges the traditional hierarchy between fine art and craft, emphasizing the value of the materials, making, and context in understanding its full meaning.